Kate_Frank
Kate Frank, Hamden, CT, USeditor
For the last decade, I have worked for magazine and newspaper web sites, both as a programmer and as a content creator. Now I am a web editor for www.finegardening.com and www.vegetablegardener.com.
Contributions
And the winner of the September photo challenge is...
Congratulations to Anne Clark (anneclark) for her winning entry in the September "Summer Combinations" Photo Challenge: Colorado Colors. We asked Anne to tell us a little about herself.
What plant(s) did you kill this year?
I had the pleasure of attending the Garden Writers Association Symposium in Raleigh, NC, last week. One of the many highlights of my trip was finally meeting some of the writers and bloggers I "know"...
It's red. It's rubber. Is it safe for your garden?
Okay, it's not always red. In fact, it comes in brown, blue, green, orange, turquoise, black, and about a billion other colors. Nope, we're not talking about birds or butterflies or an amazing annual...
Spot the Difference: Garden Photo Fun
Have some fun while enjoying the wonderful photography from Fine Gardening magazine with our new photo matching game, Spot the Difference. Play it now.
This plant popped up
Please excuse the iPhone photo! I stepped outside this morning to see what needed watering and noticed this plant for the first time. I haven't seen it before. Anyone know what it is?
Columbine?
I think this is a columbine, but just wanted to check. Does anyone know which one?
Succulent-type daisy
I have no idea what this is, but I loved it!
Make a wooden garden tote
Here's a project plan for a garden tote that you can complete in an afternoon. And you don't even need to be a handyperson.
Test your gardening IQ
Can you pick out a native plant from a list or identify items that are okay to compost? Take our trivia quiz and put your garden knowledge to the test.
Photo Contest Official Rules
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER. Entries for the "How Green is Your Garden?" Photo Contest (the "Contest") will be accepted during the period beginning at 12:01 a.m. ET on April 1, 2009 and...
Travels with Victoria
This article was first printed in Fine Gardening 126, in the Last Word column.
More Philly Flower Show Photos
Here are some more Philly Flower Show photos.
Philadelphia Flower Show Photos
Here are some photos that I took at the Philly Flower Show.
Seedlings are a sign of spring
There's still snow on the ground, but in my house, seedlings are one of the first signs of spring.
Photo Challenge: Signs of Spring
Spring is coming and we want to see photos! We're all ready for a big dose of snowdrops, robins, and daffodils.
Do you grow veggies, fruits, or herbs?
Do you have a veggie garden? Visit www.VegetableGardener.com!
One year in 40 seconds
Watch the seasons change in this 40-second video of images taken in the same spot over one year. Fascinating!
Square Foot Gardening Tips: February
I'm a huge fan of the Square Foot Gardening method, so I was happy to see that one of our contributors, Patti Moreno, had filmed a series of videos with Mel Bartholomew, author of the book Square Foot Gardening.
Caught playing games
Warning: Our new botanical match game is addictive
Winter Wonders Photo Challenge Winners
Picking the winners of our Winter Wonders Photo Challenge wasn't easy, but we finally narrowed it down the following three winners:
February Photo Challenge: Pets in the Garden
Get out your cameras and post photos of your pets in your garden. We'll choose a winner based on creativity, originality, and cuteness.
Photos from my travels
I can't take credit for growing these....
Plants in my garden
Here are some plants in my garden.
How to test your garden soil
Here's an interesting video from Patti Moreno, the Garden Girl. She and Mark Highland, from Organic Mechanic Soil, test the soil in Patti's raised bed garden.







Recent comments
Re: What plant(s) did you kill this year?
I killed several containers of herbs (mostly different kinds of mint) because I was lazy about watering them. I should not be allowed to have a container garden until I am responsible enough to care for it properly.
posted: 11:08 am on September 30thRe: Go Green with Goats?
Goats also eat things like tin cans, but they are so cute!
posted: 3:26 pm on September 8thRe: How to post photos in the gallery
Hi Blueberry, The photo must be at least 400 pixels tall and 400 wide. Otherwise it's too small and breaks the page. Do you have a larger size you can upload?
posted: 11:03 am on August 25thRe: Fine Gardening's "Container Gardens" Contest Official Rules
I'm going to try to post it today. Sorry for the delay!
posted: 9:47 am on July 22ndRe: Part I -- When The Well Runs Dry
Oh no you didn't. You did NOT use that dreaded popcorn phrase!
posted: 12:16 pm on July 9thRe: Too Bad My Dog's Color Blind - Sizzling Hot Colors of Summer
Wow! Nice post... great photos.
posted: 9:06 am on June 26thRe: Japanese Type Peony -- The Cultivar ??
You remembered? Awesome!
posted: 3:52 pm on June 15thRe: My Begonia is Awesome!
I love it!
posted: 3:42 pm on June 8thRe: This plant popped up
It popped up right near my bird feeder. I should move it somewhere!
posted: 9:57 am on June 8thRe: This plant popped up
I think it could be! I need to get outside and take some better pics. The blurriness isn't helping much.
posted: 12:03 pm on June 3rdRe: Do You Suffer from One-of-Each-itis?
I must be in recovery. I buy TWO of everything now....
posted: 10:52 am on May 28thRe: Columbine?
Thank you for identifying it!
posted: 9:55 am on May 26thRe: Fine Gardening's "May Flowers" Contest: Official Rules
It's so pretty! But the winner has a choice of all the different totes on the site. Even better!
posted: 3:19 pm on May 20thRe: And the winner of April's photo challenge is...
Cute! A comment from big sis... Love it!
posted: 2:02 pm on May 18thRe: Foliage Plants in Container Gardening.
Wow, I'm looking at the last photo... what a gorgeous display!
posted: 2:00 pm on May 14thRe: You Want To Paint My What?
Oh Michelle... my lawn looks the same way come August. I don't care what the neighbors think!
posted: 3:28 pm on May 7thRe: WHat Plant is this?
Ooh I bet you're right! Does that mean I need to cough up some money?!
posted: 9:45 am on May 4thRe: WHat Plant is this?
Ha... I was trying to be artsy. I don't have any other photos. But I will keep that in mind for the future.
posted: 10:49 am on April 30thRe: Book Giveaway: Sean Conway's Cultivating Life - 125 Projects for Backyard Living
There were so many cool projects in this book that I was unable to part with my copy. Enter! Enter!
posted: 1:04 pm on April 22ndRe: Old skylight becomes a water feature
Definitely post a photo!! :)
posted: 12:20 pm on April 8thRe: A few of my favorites...
Wow! So pretty...
posted: 10:15 am on April 8thRe: A few of my favorites...
Wow, this is a gorgeous photo...
posted: 10:14 am on April 8thRe: Spiraea
Can you e-mail me at kfrank@taunton.com?
posted: 10:38 am on April 7thRe: Philadelphia Flower Show Photos
Thank you! It's still pretty chilly here. I'm waiting patiently, too.
posted: 9:20 pm on April 4thRe: Spiraea
I just love your photos and these posts. They would work so well in our plant guide!
posted: 9:19 pm on April 4thRe: Pot on my Deck
Wow! Nice colors...
posted: 12:06 pm on April 3rdRe: What's going on in this picture?
I can only speak for myself, but it doesn't take cut flowers to discourage me from using a urinal.
posted: 9:31 pm on March 24thRe: Fine Gardening's "Signs of Spring" Contest: Official Rules
You're not giving up your rights to the photo, just extending those rights to us. You still own the photo and can publish it or sell it anywhere you wish. But this clause gives us the right to republish the photo on our Web site, in print, or in any future media.
posted: 3:06 pm on March 16thWhenever we grab a photo from the gallery to run in the magazine, we try to contact the photographer first to make sure we credit him or her properly. So far, everyone has been pleased to know their photo was used in print.
Re: Southern California Spring
Lovely photos.
posted: 12:06 pm on March 12thRe: A sunny oasis in the snow
Knock on the door! Just make sure you shoot some video.
posted: 2:41 pm on March 11thRe: babies!
A sight for sore eyes!
posted: 2:29 pm on March 7thRe: Our Booth at the Spring National Home Show - Toronto
A remote control pergola?! My two favorite things: gardening and gadgets.
posted: 9:42 am on March 6thRe: More Garden Woodwork
Thanks for posting! I wish my garden gate looked like these. I know you're mostly active in the FineHomebuilding community, but please feel free to stop by and post your work here.
posted: 9:25 pm on February 27thRe: Sweet Pets
Will you please post these at our sister site, www.vegetablegardener.com? They would be great for that gallery, too, and we love honeybees!
posted: 4:30 pm on February 27thRe: Do you grow veggies, fruits, or herbs?
That's an interesting confession! I help my clematis plants a little by tying them to whatever they're growing up, but the morning glories in my garden seem to be able to jump. Two summers ago, they actually busted through the screen in my kitchen window and were growing inside my house. Morning glories just don't know when to quit. I don't know if this is helping your phobia or not...
posted: 4:50 pm on February 24thAnyway, we have a whole section devoted to growing vines that you might want to check out:
http://www.taunton.com/finegardening/Design/Vines/74864.aspx?channel=2
Re: Am I in trouble AGAIN?
Murphy is so cute that I'm snagging this photo for our eLetter. Then again, I am partial to spaniels...
posted: 11:25 am on February 17thRe: Our Yard
These are so, so gorgeous.
posted: 6:15 pm on February 13thRe: Capturing living flowers with a flatbed scanner
This is really, really cool! I love it.
posted: 1:48 pm on February 12thRe: Am I in trouble AGAIN?
I think spaniels are the best!
posted: 10:05 am on February 11thRe: Caught playing games
Lies!
posted: 3:55 pm on February 9thRe: February Photo Challenge: Pets in the Garden
Emanuel, Patti Moreno (www.urbansustainableliving.com) guest blogs for us occasionally. You can expect even more contributions from her to Fine Gardening in the future.
posted: 3:30 pm on February 9thRe: Am I blue?
Hmmmm... I wonder how free-range huskies taste?
posted: 12:03 pm on February 5th(I kid! I kid!)
Re: Smith Point, NY
Wow... these photos are amazing...
posted: 3:51 pm on January 29thRe: The Worst Plant Tag Ever
I'm just relieved they remembered to point out that Green Plant is not edible.
posted: 4:40 pm on January 15thRe: Frozen in Time
These would make great desktop wallpaper. So pretty...
posted: 2:31 pm on January 15thRe: Butterfly on Salvia
Wow...
posted: 12:12 pm on January 14thRe: Winter
These are gorgeous...
posted: 12:12 pm on January 14thRe: Winter Wonders Photo Contest
I'm sorry you're having trouble. These comments are helpful, though, and I've passed this info on to our tech department. Hopefully we'll get this fixed asap.
posted: 9:23 am on January 12thRe: Hopeless N NC's Garden
Love the flutterby!
posted: 2:20 pm on January 9thRe: Our back yard June '08
What a great ornament! Love it...
posted: 2:10 pm on January 8thRe: Sheryl's Kitchen Garden
I keep meaning to comment on the photo of the clematis. It looks gorgeous.
posted: 1:17 pm on January 8thRe: Does this make me a bad gardener?
I can relate to this post. I'm too embarrassed to share my long list of garden chores I didn't get around to completing last year.
posted: 12:30 pm on January 8thRe: Lancaster Avenue, Buffalo, NY
Wow, gorgeous property! I especially love the first photo.
posted: 11:21 am on January 7thRe: Container contest entry last summer
That's a pretty amazing combo.
posted: 12:43 pm on January 5thRe: My Yard 2008
Wow!!!! (I'm looking at the butterflies.)
posted: 12:42 pm on January 5thRe: my back yard
Gorgeous photos... I especially like the closeups.
posted: 12:41 pm on January 5thRe: My Garden
Wow! What a contrast...
posted: 12:40 pm on January 5thRe: more of my yard
I just love the reds in this first photo. It really stood out in the gallery to me. And of course I have to leave an "Awww, cute!" comment about your kitty.
posted: 12:39 pm on January 5thRe: Just looking pretty
This is such a pretty combo.
posted: 10:21 am on December 31stRe: Patty's gardens - 2008
This looks so cozy...
posted: 10:17 am on December 31stRe: Patio project
I love your userphoto!
posted: 10:51 am on December 30thRe: My 2008 Pictures of my Gardens
These are beautiful...
posted: 10:51 am on December 30thRe: Flowers/Plants of my garden
Wow, I love this!
posted: 9:06 am on December 28thRe: Some of my favorites
I am SO growing these next year....
posted: 8:43 am on December 28thRe: Garden Shed
Do you know which issue is is? I'm curious...
posted: 8:42 am on December 28thRe: Backyard in Winter
Winter photos! Yay!
posted: 8:40 am on December 28thRe: Black Cohosh
This is a beautiful photo...
posted: 8:39 am on December 28thRe: My Friends' Gardens
These pictures are pretty humbling. I wish I could design like this!
posted: 8:10 am on December 24thRe: More containers
These purple flowers are soooo pretty.
posted: 4:48 pm on December 22ndRe: Tampa yard
I agree, the burgundy really pops. Very pretty!
posted: 2:12 pm on December 22nd