Diana is a registered dietitian nutritionist with a passion for gardening and sustainable foods. She is a graduate of the Academy of Culinary Arts and member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Food from the garden fuels her enthusiasm for eating right and nutritional science. She especially loves gardening as part of a healthy lifestyle. Gardening engages us with nature, gives us health benefits from exercise, and rewards us with fresh, nutritious foods. To assess your food and garden activity level, visit choosemyplate.gov or her blog. You can also follow Diana on Google.
Thanksgiving feasts, whether centered on traditional or non-traditional menus, include a bounty of food to be thankful for. Read More
Did you know that Kiwi is a relatively new name for this nutrient-dense fruit? Join me on my quest to learn about the history, nutrition and varieties of Kiwi, as well as how-to-grow this delicious treat. Read More
The more you learn about watercress, the more likely you are to include this tasty member of the mustard family in your diet. Read More
Lemon grass, Job's tears, amaranth, sorghum, oats, millet, rice and any grain can be grown at home to enjoy the plants, but for volume of harvest, rice - like most grains - is usually left to commercial growers. Read More
Mosaic garden accents glisten in the sun, reflecting cut glass, mirror, shiny stones, stamped letters in the concrete and hand-picked treasures. Read More
Today's hybridizing techniques are taking watermelon to a new high for nutrition and health. Fresh watermelon is still available, so don't miss out on its summertime flavor and nutritional benefits. Read More
Usually insects and arachnids live in our gardens peacefully, and we don't even know they are there. Every now and then, though, they declare war on us, and our plants show signs of attack. Spider mites are a common garden pest that can severely attack when conditions are right. When they feast on beautiful roses, they create a not-so-rosy picture. Read More
No need to purchase ground cayenne, ground red pepper, paprika, curry powder, chili powder, or Tandoori seasoning, when you can easily make some from hot and sweet peppers grown in your own garden. Read More
Appreciated since Victorian times, Coleus (now Solenostemon) lights up gardens and window boxes like precious gems. Some species are edible herbs and root vegetables too, with medicinal health claims. I consulted with representatives from Gaia Herbs in North Carolina, and with Coleus expert Ray Rogers in search of health and nutrition information about the Ayurvedic herb, Coleus forskohlii. Read More
Have you ever grown Coronado Hyssop? The eye-catching, pale-orange color of this deer-resistant perennial agastache makes it an excellent choice for butterfly, cottage and hummingbird gardens. Read More
Participating in seed swaps here on Dave's Garden sure has wonderful rewards. In a swap last season I received seeds for a plant called Job's Tears, Coix lacryma-jobi. A member of the Poaceae (grass) family, it is quite a fascinating plant. Read More
Last October the National Restaurant Association surveyed over one thousand chefs asking them to predict 'what's hot in 2009'. More than half (73%) predicted superfruits would be a hot trend. Goji (pronounced go-gee) and Acai (pronounced ah-sigh-ee) and their related products are indeed hot sellers this year. Can we grow these Superfruits in our gardens? Read More
My inspiration to write about lichens came from a lichen-covered, dying red maple in our front yard. For lichens, every day is Earth Day. Like people, lichens need a clean environment to thrive. Celebrate Earth Day by doing something good for the environment. Baked goods always enhance a celebration; I hope you enjoy the recipe at the end of the article. Read More
You don't have to live in Jamaica to grow Scotch Bonnet hot peppers. They grow easily in US backyard and community gardens too. Scotch Bonnets make a delicious and nutritious addition to spice up healthy meals. Read More
Nutritious Chia seeds come from Salvia plants (sages in the Mint family) and grow easily in the home garden. Chia plants produce incredibly healthy seeds, super high in omega-3's (like flaxseeds). Chia adds nutrition to your plate and interest to your kitchen garden, hummingbird garden and potted arrangements. Check out Chia! Read More
Homemade jams and jellies make appreciated gifts from friends and family who have learned basic skills in the art of canning and food preservation. Last season, in our first attempt at jelly making, my husband and I used over seven pounds of our prized homegrown red grapes... and guess what? It didn't gel! Here are a few tips from our lessons learned and a step-by-step beginner's recipe for a simple, fun process that will work like a charm. Read More
Last October the National Restaurant Association surveyed over one thousand chefs asking them to predict Read More
Rosemary is a tender herb with edible, aromatic, evergreen, needle-like leaves, resembling pine needles. This easy-to-grow, woody perennial herb is available in both cascading and upright forms. Rosemary's unique flavor remains potent when dried, making it renowned by chefs and cooks across the country. My favorite recipe using dried Rosemary is Rosemary Roasted Potato Read More
White House Chef Cristeta Commerford recently shared her seasonal recipe for Roasted Pumpkin Squash Soup with Pepitas and Greek Yogurt with the public. She added Espelette pepper powder to deepen the flavor and warm it up. Have you ever heard about or grown this hot pepper cultivar from France? Read More
Cape May, New Jersey features beautiful beaches, Victorian homes and gardens, butterflies, raptors, songbirds, shorebirds, ruby-throated hummingbirds and wetlands. The Cape is nestled in a peninsula at the southern most tip of New Jersey, where the Delaware Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean. This National historic landmark attracts travelers from around the world. Read More
