The 1955 book An Episode of Sparrows (Bookshop|Amazon) tells the story of life on a small street in post-war London, largely through the eyes of children. Author Rumer Godden grew up in India and what later became Bangladesh, and her writing...
Mary Gordon in Austin, Texas, shares a delightful story about her elderly father and a handful of vegetables, which raises the question: what’s the plural of squash? Squashes? Or squash? This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Mary Gordon...
We got a call from Nan Sterman, host of the public television gardening show A Growing Passion, who writes so much about plants that she’s looking for some alternatives to the verb “to plant.” But what to say if you don’t want to sound pretentious...
Grant quizzes Martha about some odd terms: three sisters garden, weak-hand draw, and strimmer. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Three Sisters Garden” You’re listening to A Way with Words. I’m Martha Barnette. And I’m Grant Barrett...
chitting n.— «Then sprout the potatoes before you plant them. This time-honored process, known as “chitting,” gives them a head start and often increases your eventual yield.» —“How to Spur On Early Spuds” by Barbara Damrosch Washington Post Feb...
doughnut effect n.— «Asters are easily propagated by division in the early spring. Simply dig the clump up once the shoots appear in early May, and gently pull the crown apart. When they require dividing, you will notice new growth around the...