Keep homegrown vegetables and those purchased at the farmer’s market fresh and tasting their best. Selecting and harvesting vegetables at their peak and storing them properly will provide maximum flavor and nutritional value from every bite.

Check the garden regularly and harvest vegetables as recommended for the best flavor and nutritional value. Look for harvesting guidelines from reliable sources like your local extension service.

Improve a garden’s beauty, increase enjoyment, and reduce stress five minutes at a time. As gardeners we know, and research proves that gardening is good for the mind, body and spirit. However, busy schedules often lead to neglected projects, weedy gardens and long to-do lists.

Roots erupting through the soil surface beyond the tree trunk irritate gardeners when trying to grow and mow grass under trees. Save time, reduce frustration and be kind to your trees when dealing with these surface roots. These roots are a normal part of aging for shallow rooted trees and are important to their health and stability.

Memorial Day weekend may prompt visions of the red poppy known as Flanders or corn poppy (Papaver rhoeas). This beautiful flower inspired the poem In Flanders Field written by the Canadian doctor Lt. Col. John McCrae, who ran a field hospital during World War I.

Make it fun and convenient to add some homegrown flavor to cookouts, garden parties and meals. Grow a few herbs in containers on a patio, deck or balcony.

Set a pot near the grill and fill it with favorite grilling herbs. Include some barbecue rosemary known for its especially good flavor and aroma suited to cooking. Plus, the strong stems make the perfect skewer, something guests are sure to remember.

Add color and seasonal interest throughout the landscape with container gardens. Set them in garden beds to add vertical interest, place pots of edible plants on a patio, deck or balcony for convenient picking, and include pollinator-friendly plants in containers to attract and support pollinators.