Linda Ly's Blog, page 16

Defending the Dandelion: It’s Not Just Another Weed

The ever-pervasive dandelion. It’s one of the first plants to sprout in spring, when the ground is barely free of frost, and remains steadfast through the season with vibrant pops of yellow and downy balls of seeds so nostalgic of childhood wonderment.

Somehow, somewhere along the way, this humble plant that has fed and healed humanity for thousands of years became a blight on our landscape. Dismissed as a weed, eradicated at all costs, cursed and scorned for its stubbornly long taproots tha...

The Surprise That Was The New Camp Cookbook Cover

After having the luxury of shooting my first book at home (or in various relatives’ homes) with easy access to a dishwasher, hot running water, and electricity, my second book was a true test of faith and patience.

Forget the beautiful filtered light through the windows and being able to walk barefoot on soft carpet. Think glaring midday sun and waiting for the light to move over the trees. Think dusty feet in flip-flops crunching across a pine needle-littered campsite.

The entirety of The N...

Here’s to the First Year

Above: Gemma at one day old.

Every morning, I take the first nap with the baby. I always wake up an hour before she starts stirring, but rather than getting up and going about my day, I like to lie in bed with her and simply watch her sleep. The sweet sighs. The rise and fall of her round belly. I love the way her lips pucker under the weight of her chubby cheeks, and I love to bury my nose in her soft tuft of hair, breathing in that milky baby smell.

Gemma at three months old.

These are t...

Five Things Friday

The five little things that made my week…

1. These two. Mischief makers in the garden.

2. “Can you come out and play?” (No, she isn’t talking yet, but that’s what I imagine her babbling to be.)

3. While she’s in recovery mode, we’ve been bringing Iman inside the house to sleep in a makeshift coop each night. We don’t want her to feel lonely roosting in the outdoor coop by herself, and we still have another week before we integrate her with the new chickens. She’s gotten so used to the VIP...

Checklist for Your Spring Garden Tune-Up

Early spring can feel like a game of garden roulette: sunny and warm one week, tempting you to transplant all those tomatoes you’d started inside, then wet and cold the next week, reminding you that frost isn’t entirely out of the picture.

If you’re itching to get outside but the unpredictable weather is reigning you in, there’s still plenty you can do around the yard before (and aside from) sowing seeds or putting tender seedlings in the ground. The name of the game in March is “clean-up,”...

Moroccan Orange Blossom Iced Tea

Late winter to early spring is one of my favorite times to be in the garden: the days are longer, the weather’s warmer, and the air is thick with the heady fragrance of flowers from our orange and mandarin trees. When I’m feeling pulled in multiple directions and need to decompress, even for just a few minutes, I simply stand under the canopy of my citrus tree and breathe it all in. It’s like having my own aromatherapy session; the scent is delicate yet overpowering all at once, and slowly I...

A Sad Update From the Chicken Coop

Last week, a raccoon attacked our Barred Rock, Kimora, and our Golden Laced Cochin, Iman, in their coop. My husband heard the commotion but didn’t make it outside in time. According to him, it was the most heartbreaking sound he’d ever heard, like a peacock in angst.

He found Kimora’s body in the coop, along with a shaken Iman. The latter sustained a small injury to her head, but our brave Kimora never had a chance. I’d like to think she died while trying to protect her sister, as it’s the o...

Five Things Friday

The five little things that made my week…

1. She’s gone rafting and camping, but she’s never been wetter or dirtier than after a day of “helping” me in the garden. This babe is clearly not afraid to get a little dirt under her nails!

2. It’s been years since the lower yard has had such an abundant and healthy patch of volunteer tomato plants. Thanks to all the rain we’ve had this winter, we’re seeing about two dozen plants growing steadily, some over 3 feet tall already — and we’re keeping...

Sleep-Promoting Fruits and Vegetables That Help You “Spring Forward” Easier

I have a love/hate for Daylight Saving Time. On the one hand, I’m thrilled that the days are about to get longer and I can get a little more work done in the garden, finish my bike rides while it’s still light out, and not feel like it’s time for bed when it’s only 8 pm.

On the other hand, “losing” that hour of sleep makes me feel off kilter for weeks as I struggle to nip my late-night habits in the bud. Research has shown that our circadian rhythms never fully adjust to Daylight Saving Time...

Welcome to the All-New Garden Betty!

If you checked my blog over the weekend, you may have noticed that things look a lot different around here! A new design has blossomed (along with these delicious-smelling jasmine flowers in my yard right now) and I’m thrilled to tell you all about it.

My last redesign was in 2013. The world of blogs has changed quite a bit since then, so an update was long overdue. If you’re reading this on a mobile device, the first and most important change you may notice is a mobile-responsive design tha...