As we continued touring the The Kings Gardens Maui, we walked between beautifully terraced plants with trails interspersed throughout. It was a veritable jungle. It was hot and humid — think Ohme Gardens in Wenatchee, but at 80°F with 100% humidity.

Dear Gabby,

I was given an ebelskiver pan quite a while ago, and have finally gotten the nerve to try it out. I watched multiple videos on the procedure and it seemed straightforward enough.

When we first arrived for our tour at The Kings Gardens Maui, a giant plant stood there welcoming us. I assumed it was a banana plant, but I was incorrect. Our tour guide told us it was a white bird of paradise, or strelitzia nicolai. It is also called a wild banana, but it is definitely not…

Dear Gabby,

I remember my mother making what she called German coleslaw. It was a raw cabbage salad, partially cooked by pouring a seasoned hot oil and vinegar dressing over it, and letting it sit for a few minutes with an overturned plate on top. It was delicious, not too crunchy and not soggy at all. …

I've used all types of containers and methods to keep my cat safe from various plants, and my plants safe from my cat. This year, I opted for a four-tiered indoor greenhouse. It zips up in two spots, and then allows a front panel to roll up for easy access to the inside for watering, all the…

Dear Gabby,

We've been giving our dog yogurt, so we had an extra container of plain greek yogurt that needed to be used right away before it expired. It's easier to keep the yogurt fresh by purchasing the small cups, since she only eats a teaspoon twice a day.

I remember getting in a horrid argument with someone about whether green onions and chives were the same thing. My only experience with chives had been at a steakhouse on my baked potato: a sprinkle of dark bits topping a double scoop of sour cream. After the argument, I thought to myself, "…

Dear Gabby,

Air fryers were on sale, and not just those tiny ones with a drawer that cooks only two pieces of chicken. The one I got is huge and can cook a whole meal for a large family. I didn't realize how important that air fryer would become, especially during the holidays.

Now that I've seen and experienced how fickle the Waterville weather is, I know I must plan ahead precisely to earn the fruits of my labor this year.

Dear Readers,

Back in the day when I was a young girl, jobs were scarce. But my dad actually worked two jobs most of his life and often did the graveyard shift. That meant he was not home at midnight, and as a child I didn't understand exactly what his job was. I shivered thinking about poor ol' Dad havin…

We all make New Year's resolutions for healthy habits and I am making one, too. Of course, it is garden related, but ties into a healthier lifestyle, as well. I believe any gardening endeavor leads to a healthier lifestyle overall with exercise, fresh air and sunshine, not to mention the emo…

Dear Gabby,

We always had a huge ham for Christmas. Just plain, though, no fancy frills or toppings and no spiral cuts either. The fruit salad was the main event, mostly for us kids anyway, and it really went well together.

For most of the eight-plus years I've been in Waterville, I thought the pretty plant coming through and under our neighbors fence was a holly bush. I remember thinking it would be neat to use a few cuttings as decorations for the holidays. I didn't understand why it never got the distinctive…

Dear Gabby,

I often hear of families making tons and tons of tamales at Christmas and I envy their assembly line production, generating gifts of tamales for all.

It takes a hardy plant to overwinter in Waterville, with below zero temperatures, wind, rain, and blindingly bright sun reflected off the snow.

Dear Gabby,

Dundee cake is native to a place called Dundee in Scotland. It is a Scottish fruit cake that has varied historical stories behind it. Whether specifically made for Mary Queen of Scots, or because they were tired of the usual fruitcakes, all authentic recipes contained Scottish whiskey.

A little more than eight years ago when we came to Waterville, we did a little digging and planting, not really knowing what was planted here before. Over the years, we've seen plants pop up that we didn't plant, such as sweet irises.

Dear Gabby,

The threads of a Native American culture forced into a new age, and those who hung in there and transformed themselves to fit into the then-current society, helped create this cornbread stuffing recipe.

I will always remember the first time I saw an autumn crocus. It was in our yard, here in Waterville, and it seemed to magically pop up overnight in October. I was stunned. I didn't know much about plants back then and I still have plenty to learn.

Many people are talking about this 1670 pumpion (pumpkin) pie recipe, which reminds me of a cross between an apple pie, mincemeat pie, and a sort of savory pumpkin pie. If you're bored out of your gourd, give this new-old recipe a try this holiday season.

This year, I planted my Waterville-grown 1,500-year-old cave beans from last year's beans/seeds. They are pole beans, so I grew them in last year's pea pots and used the same in-ground trellises. I had really high hopes, but the weather didn't cooperate. It could have been because they were …

Dear Gabby,

My family’s known and loved traditional Thanksgiving dinner has evolved from when I was a child.

I was surprised to see that my mason bee house was used again this season, with a variety of solitary bees, as well as mason bees. This time they didn't just stick to laying their eggs in the tubes, but in the surrounding areas between the tubes!

Dear Gabby,

I remember having a shredded apple pie at a church picnic growing up. I was too young to ask for the recipe, so I have been trying to recreate the exact recipe ever since. I have not yet been able to find what it’s missing, but the one I make now is pretty good. It's one of my husband’s favorites.