Head coach Deion Sanders of the University of Colorado speaks about his journey beating bladder cancer during a press conference.
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At 57, two-time Super Bowl champion Deion Sanders, has a brand-new bladder.
The University of Colorado coach recently underwent reconstructive surgery to treat an aggressive form of bladder cancer after doctors discovered a tumor this spring.
The procedure, called neobladder reconstruction, uses tissue from the patient’s own small intestine.
Here’s how it’s done:
First surgeons remove the old bladder. Then they cut out about a foot and a half from the ileum, the end section of the small intestine.
Then the surgeon cuts down one side of the segment of intestine so that it lays flat like a sheet. Next, they fold it in half, top to bottom, and then connect the back part to the front.
The end result resembles a volleyball covered in sutures, said Dr. Max Kates, codirector of the Greenberg Bladder Cancer Institute at Johns Hopkins University.
Finally, the surgeon sews the neobladder to the kidneys and urethra.
The human body’s ability to adapt to such a procedure is “amazing,” says Sanders’ surgeon, Dr. Janet Kukreja, director of urologic oncology at the University of Colorado Cancer Center. Patients usually spend just a few days recovering in the hospital.
She performed Sanders’ neobladder reconstruction robotically and with a laparoscopic camera, a method that only requires small incisions.
Kukreja told NPR that a cool aspect of this surgery is that because the neobladder is created from the body’s own tissue, a patient’s immune system doesn’t reject the new organ. So patients with neobladders don’t need immunosuppressant medications.
Plastic wouldn’t work either to reconstruct a bladder since the urinary tract rejects foreign materials, said Kukreja. Calcium would build up giving patients bladder stones.
A reconstructed bladder doesn’t function exactly like someone’s original bladder because it can’t send signals to the brain to let a person know when to use the toilet.
Getting used to a neobladder takes some training, says Dr. Jodi Maranchie, a surgical urologic oncologist at UPMC in Pittsburgh. Gradually they increase the interval between bathroom visits until they can comfortably control their bladder during the day. But leakage often remains an issue for people while they sleep.
During a Monday press conference, Sanders acknowledged this drawback. He joked that, like his one-year-old grandson, he now “depends on the Depends.”
“I know there’s a lot of people out there going through what I’m going through. And dealing with what I’m dealing with,” he said. “And let’s stop being ashamed of it.”
Kates said a lot of people do feel shame around the incontinence that comes with a neobladder reconstruction.
Which is why Kates told NPR that he “loved every moment” of Sanders’ press conference. The urologist described the Pro Football Hall of Famer as authentic and funny, “the guy was anything but shameful.”
In fact two of Kates’ patients, both men around Sanders’ age, mentioned the press conference: “They both felt completely validated by him.”
An estimated 85,000 people in the U.S., will get bladder cancer this year, according to data from the American Cancer Society. While most patients with bladder cancer are men, Maranchie said that women tend to present with a more advanced and slightly more aggressive disease.
Because the only symptom of bladder cancer is blood in urine, she theorized that some women mistake this warning sign for menstrual blood.
But Sanders shared that his tumor was discovered during an annual checkup.
He said if he hadn’t gone in for that appointment, things might have turned out very differently.
“Please get yourself checked out,” he said. “Because if it wasn’t for me getting tested for something else they wouldn’t have stumbled up on this. Make sure you get the right care.”
Today we’re heading to central Michigan for an update on Dale Dailey’s diverse gardens. Dale has shared the many different aspects of his landscape, with his fascinating collection of plants, quite a few times in the past (here is a handful of his previous submissions: Dale’s Japanese Garden, Dale’s Garden in 2020, Spring Versus Summer in Dale’s Garden, A Year in a Garden, Stop Dreaming about Spring), and today’s update is equally as enlightening. So far this year, there has already been an alluring assortment of blooms, and everything from his Japanese garden to his shade beds is looking exquisite.
Spring arrived early this year with an abundance of flowering trees and bright, colorful foliage. This photo shows a weeping cherry tree in bloom with a purple-leaved European beech(Fagus sylvatica, Zones 5–7) to the left.
We have a large area around our house dedicated to a variety of gardens. This pathway moves from sunny plantings to a shady area in front of our Japanese-style garden.
Along the way, the blossoms of a Cardinal Wyszynski clematis(Clematis ‘Cardinal Wyszynski’, Zones 4–10) were extraordinary this spring.
In a shady area, I stopped to admire a Farge’s cobra lily(Arisaema fargesii, Zones 6–8) in full bloom.
Finally reaching our Japanese garden, I’m reminded of how it is always a restful place to stop and sit and contemplate.
Walking on around, I discover that the large mayapple (Podophyllum ‘Spotty Dotty’, Zones 6–9) is in full bloom.
Our gardens provide a rich habitat for bees and butterflies. One big area is dedicated to pollinators.
There are many, many more treats in our garden. We have a huge space dedicated to formal gardens. I have been creating gardens, collecting unusual plants, and planting them for at least 25 years.
One last photo shows a colorful graphic canvas in an otherwise shady area. The canvas is surrounded by hardy kiwi vines(Actinidia arguta, Zones 3–8) on the left and a very mature wisteria on the right.
I hope you have enjoyed your brief visit.
Thank you so much for this update on your thriving garden, Dale! Even a brief visit is full of fantastic plant specimens and sensational scenes from you various garden beds.
What has the 2025 growing season been like in your garden so far? While we (hopefully) have at least a few more months of gardening glory, now is a great time to check in on how things have been going. Garden Photo of the Day can be a great place to share, reflect, celebrate wins, and commiserate plant losses. Follow the directions below to submit photos via email, or send me a DM on Instagram: @agirlherdogandtheroad.
We want to see YOUR garden!
Have photos to share? We’d love to see your garden, a particular collection of plants you love, or a wonderful garden you had the chance to visit!
To submit, send 5–10 photos to [email protected] along with some information about the plants in the pictures and where you took the photos. We’d love to hear where you are located, how long you’ve been gardening, successes you are proud of, failures you learned from, hopes for the future, favorite plants, or funny stories from your garden.
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Premium 16 Perennial Wildflower Seeds Mix – Special Garden Flower Seeds Blend designed for planting indoor & outdoors across North America. With over 16 varieties and 100,000 wildflower seeds, this mix is the best solution to attract pollinators – bees, butterflies & birds are essential for garden plants health. Our Special Perennial Wildflower Seeds Mix Includes White Yarrow, Columbine, New England Aster, Siberian Wallflower, Shasta Daisy, Lance-Leaf Coreopsis, Sweet William, Purple Coneflower, Blanketflower, Gayfeather, Blue Flax, Lupine, Dwarf Evening, Primrose, Mexican Hat, Prairie Coneflower, Black Eyed Susan. Easy & Fun Growing Experience with our online guides – Don’t plant disappointment – Add more colors to your wildflower garden! We send only super hearty heirloom flower seeds with the highest germination rate and fast sprout. Our detailed growing guide helps you grow seeds the garden of your dream like a PRO. Colorful Wildflower Garden from Seeds – Grow wildflowers everywhere – Indoor in window garden or Outdoors Flower garden Garden make a beautiful design for your garden borders, pathways, field or meadow and attract pollinators. Made in the USA by Small Family-Owned Business – Quality You Can Trust – Our wildflower bulk seeds variety pack are tested at the highest germination rates before being sealed to last for up to 3 years before you need to plant. Each packet of our flower seeds variety pack is resealable to make it easy to store and has its own label with a QR code for the growing instructions.
The Nature of Oaks: The Rich Ecology of Our Most Essential Native Trees
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The Nature of Oaks reveals what is going on in oak trees month by month, highlighting the seasonal cycles of life, death, and renewal. From woodpeckers who collect and store hundreds of acorns for sustenance to the beauty of jewel caterpillars, Doug Tallamy illuminates and celebrates the wonders that occur right in our own backyards. He also shares practical advice about how to plant and care for an oak, along with information about the best oak species for your area.
Pruning Simplified: A Step-by-Step Guide to 50 Popular Trees and Shrubs
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Pruning Simplified shows you exactly how to do it. This must-have guide offers expert advice on the best tools for the job, specific details on when to prune, and clear instructions on how to prune. Profiles of the 50 most popular trees and shrubs—including azaleas, camellias, clematis, hydrangeas, and more—include illustrated, easy-to-follow instructions that will ensure you make the right cut the first time.
Call me weird, but oral health has always fascinated me. And it’s more than just brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing. Mouth taping is a newer trend in the natural oral care world, but it’s about so much more than that. This one simple habit can help your overall health improve, sometimes dramatically.
So how does putting a tiny strip of tape over your mouth before bed make that much of a difference? The idea may sound strange, even a little uncomfortable. But after digging into the science and trying it myself, I found something so simple can still have a huge ripple effect on sleep, energy, and even long-term health.
While mouth taping may seem like just another wellness trend, it actually addresses an issue many of us don’t even know we have. Mouth breathing is increasingly common and can cause a cascade of problems.
Why Mouth Breathing at Night Matters More Than You Think
How we breathe is foundational to our health. But for about 50% of the population, mouth breathing (especially during sleep) has become the norm. This seemingly harmless habit is linked to a surprising list of health concerns, both in kids and adults.
1. Dry Mouth, Cavities, and Bad Breath
When we breathe through our mouth this dries out saliva, which plays a key role in protecting teeth and gums. Saliva keeps the mouth pH balanced, remineralizes teeth, and helps prevent cavities. When saliva production drops at night due to mouth breathing, our risk of tooth decay, gum irritation, and bad breath jumps. You can read more about the importance of saliva here.
2. Facial Development, Jaw Alignment, and More
Especially in children, proper tongue posture is essential for healthy facial development. When the tongue doesn’t rest on the roof of the mouth (like during nasal breathing), it can lead to narrower palates, crooked teeth, and underdeveloped jaws. These changes can also impact hearing, speech development, and even vision. All of these systems are connected during the developing years.
3. Tonsil Inflammation
Your nose is nature’s air filter and warms, moisturizes, and cleans the air you breathe. When we bypass the nose and breathe through the mouth, the tonsils take on that role. Over time, this can irritate and inflame the tonsils, especially in kids. The result? Enlarged tonsils, tonsillitis, mouth breathing cycles, and even sleep-disordered breathing.
4. Obstructed Airways
When we’re mouth breathing and the tongue isn’t where it should be, we’re not breathing deeply and clearly. This oxygen deprivation leads to a whole host of problems, from daytime sleepiness to trouble concentrating and ADHD symptoms.
While there are obvious downsides to mouth breathing (especially at night), mouth taping can be an easy solution.
What Is Mouth Taping?
Mouth taping is a gentle practice that uses a small piece of skin-safe tape to keep the lips closed. This helps promote nasal breathing and encourages the lips to stay closed at night. It can also help nudge the tongue into the proper posture.
If you’re someone who wakes up with a dry mouth or snores often, this simple shift can make a world of difference. And even if you (or your partner!) don’t snore at night, you still may be mouth breathing without knowing it.
Benefits of Mouth Taping (Backed by Research)
Once I got past the initial awkwardness, mouth taping’s benefits became pretty noticeable. Here are a few reasons why this practice is gaining traction in holistic (and even mainstream) health circles:
1. Less Snoring and Dry Mouth
Mouth taping naturally reduces snoring for many people by stabilizing the airway through nasal breathing. With less vibration of soft tissues in the throat, the sound (and health risks) of snoring often improve. Snoring isn’t just annoying, it points to some deeper health issues. You’ll also wake up with a moist mouth instead of that dry, cotton-mouth feeling.
2. Better Dental Health
Saliva is our body’s natural defense against cavities and gum disease. Nasal breathing helps preserve saliva through the night, reduce the risk of decay, and helps keep the oral microbiome in balance.
3. Improved Sleep and Energy
One of the most noticeable benefits is better quality sleep. When we breathe through our nose we’re getting more oxygen and our body is more likely to stay in that deep, restorative sleep. This is when our brain cleans house, so it’s vital for helping guard against neurodegenerative disorders, like Alzheimer’s. You might notice less waking up in the night, better focus during the day, and a general lift in mood and energy.
4. More Oxygen to the Brain (and Fewer Negative Brain Symptoms)
One fascinating connection is the link between mouth breathing and symptoms that mimic ADHD in children. Studies show low oxygen levels at night caused by sleep-disordered breathing can lead to poor concentration, hyperactivity, and behavioral issues during the day. Some children diagnosed with ADHD show significant improvement just from addressing their sleep and breathing patterns.
On the other end of the spectrum is disordered breathing’s link to brain disorders in adults. Those who mouth breathe at night or have disordered breathing are significantly more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease.
Sleep Apnea, ADHD, and the Bigger Picture
The effects of poor breathing habits at night go beyond just dry mouth or fatigue. It’s estimated that over 1 billion adults worldwide have obstructive sleep apnea. In this condition the airway collapses during sleep and disrupts our oxygen supply. Many of these cases go undiagnosed for years or still remain undiagnosed.
Sleep apnea has been linked to a long list of health problems, including:
High blood pressure
Heart disease
Stroke
Type 2 diabetes
Depression
And sleep apnea is just the extreme end of a spectrum. A lesser-known but very common issue is upper airway resistance syndrome (UARS). This is where the body works harder to breathe at night, often without full apneas, but still has poor oxygenation. One red flag for UARS? Teeth grinding.
When Mouth Taping Isn’t a Good Idea
Mouth taping can be powerful, but it’s not for everyone. There are a few situations where it should be avoided or approached with caution:
Young children: Kids who aren’t old enough to remove the tape themselves should not use mouth tape. Babies and very young children have delicate airways that can easily become clogged so it’s important to keep their nasal airways open to encourage nasal breathing habits.
Nasal congestion or anatomical blockages: If you can’t breathe easily through your nose while awake, you shouldn’t force it at night.
In these cases, it’s important to address the root causes of nasal blockage first. Some common culprits include:
Environmental allergens (why we have air filters in our home)
Food sensitivities (especially dairy and gluten)
A deviated septum or other anatomical issues
Narrow palate or misaligned jaw
A great place to start is with an airway-focused ENT (ear, nose, and throat specialist) or a holistic dentist trained in functional breathing and jaw development. They can perform evaluations like 3D cone beam scans. They’ll assess the airway structure and help identify whether soft tissue or skeletal changes are needed. A myofunctional therapist is also a helpful route for mouth breathers to train the tongue to move correctly.
What to Do If You Can’t Breathe Through Your Nose
If mouth taping feels impossible because your nose is always blocked, you’re not alone. This is often a signal your daytime breathing habits need some attention too.
Here are some ways to help retrain your breath:
Tongue posture: The tongue should rest on the roof of the mouth, not the bottom. This posture helps widen the palate and support nasal breathing.Myofunctional therapists are helpful for this.
Deep breathing: Practices like yoga and breathwork teach you how to breathe more efficiently with the diaphragm.
Nasal rinses: Saline rinses or a neti pot can help reduce inflammation and clear mucus from the nasal passages. This is great for allergies or during illness.
Mouth and jaw training: Myofunctional therapy involves exercises that strengthen the muscles of the face, mouth, and airway to improve breathing and oral posture.
If physical changes are needed, like correcting a deviated septum or expanding a narrow jaw, there are options for both kids and adults. Treatment might include myofunctional orthodontics, expansion devices, or minor surgical corrections. While these interventions can take time, the long-term health benefits are well worth it. Here’s what my kids have done instead of braces.
How to Start Mouth Taping (and What to Use)
Mouth taping is one of those simple practices that most people can benefit from. Even if you don’t think you’re snoring, having apneas, or mouth breathing at night, you actually might. Something like an Oura ring can track your nighttime sleep and offer clues to how much rest (or not) you’re getting. If you’re really concerned, you can ask your doctor about a sleep study to monitor nighttime breathing.
An easy (and cheaper) way to get the benefits of nasal breathing at night though is to just start wearing mouth tape. There are lots of options now, but some of them have downsides. Some mouth tape can be difficult to remove, leave a sticky residue, or be uncomfortable to sleep in.
Wellnesse is my favorite brand for oral care products and they have a really great mouth tape. It’s made with bamboo silk so it’s comfortable and I like that it covers the entire lip area. If you’re subconsciously breathing around the tape at night, it’s not really helping. It’s also easy to remove for when it is time to take it off. They come in an eco-friendly container in individual tape strips, so there’s no fuss. You can learn more about Wellnesse mouth tape and try it here.
Final Thoughts on Mouth Taping’s Surprising Benefits
Mouth taping isn’t just about reducing snoring or waking up with fresh breath. It’s about reclaiming one of the body’s most important, overlooked functions, how we breathe. When we sleep, we spend about a third of our lives in a deeply restorative state. Making sure that time is optimized with proper oxygen flow, airway stability, and tongue posture can have far-reaching effects on everything from focus and mood to cardiovascular health.
So, if you’re waking up tired, grinding your teeth, or dealing with constant congestion, consider whether mouth breathing could be part of the picture. You might be surprised how much this small change can have major benefits.
Have you ever tried mouth taping before? Leave a comment and let us know!
September is the month of transition, with warmer soil and cooler nights. Signalling gardeners that they still have a chance to mess around the dirt.
While the warmth of the soil contributes in quick seed germination, cooler air means your plants won’t need to be watered frequently.
It’s kind of funny how September gets written off as the “end” of gardening season, when really, it’s more like getting a second chance. You know how spring planting can be such a gamble with late frosts and crazy weather? Well, fall planting is way more chill—literally and figuratively.
So, if you’ve been thinking it’s too late to plant anything, think again. September is not about winding down; it’s about gearing your gardening gloves for one more round before winter actually shows up.
18 Vegetables to Plant in September
Cooling temperatures in September, creates a natural advantage that summer plantings rarely enjoy.
Root crops develop sweeter flavors as they convert starches to sugars in cool weather, while leafy greens grow without the bitter taste that often develops in summer heat.
Fall plantings benefit from gradually declining temperatures that extend harvest periods for weeks or even months, providing fresh vegetables well into winter and giving you more flexibility in the kitchen with less pressure to process everything at once.
1. Spinach – Bloomsdale Longstanding, Melody, Olympia
Spinach is a fast-growing, cool-season leafy green that thrives in fall conditions. Plant your spinach 8-10 weeks before the first anticipated frost date for continuous harvests. This hardy crop can tolerate temperatures down to 15°F once established, and light frosts actually improve its flavor by concentrating sugars in the leaves.
‘Bloomsdale Longstanding’ is a classic heirloom variety with deeply savoyed, dark green leaves that resist bolting in temperature fluctuations. It’s particularly cold-hardy and slow to go to seed. You can begin harvesting baby leaves in 30-40 days, with mature leaves ready in 45-50 days.
‘Melody’ is a hybrid variety prized for its smooth, tender leaves and excellent disease resistance. It has outstanding cold tolerance and produces uniform, dark green foliage. Baby leaves can be harvested in 25-30 days, with full-size leaves ready in 40-45 days.
2. Lettuce – Black Seeded Simpson, Red Sails, Bambi, Buttercrunch, Parris Island
As the temperatures drop and daylight shortens, lettuce thrives—making fall the perfect season to grow this cool-weather favorite. For a productive harvest, sow your lettuce seeds about 8–12 weeks before your region’s first expected frost. Many varieties tolerate light frosts (down to 28–30°F) and often taste sweeter and less bitter in the cooler months.
‘Black Seeded Simpson’ is a reliable heirloom loose-leaf variety with light green, frilly leaves that form beautiful rosettes. It’s extremely cold-tolerant and has excellent bolt resistance in cool weather. This variety is perfect for cut-and-come-again harvesting. You can begin harvesting baby leaves in just 25-30 days, with mature heads ready in 45-50 days. The tender leaves have a mild, sweet flavor that gets even better after light frost.
‘Buttercrunch’ is a premium butterhead variety that forms compact, dense heads with buttery-smooth outer leaves and crisp, sweet hearts. It has outstanding cold tolerance and actually develops better flavor in cool conditions. This variety is slower to bolt and handles temperature fluctuations well. Baby leaves can be harvested in 35-40 days, with full heads ready in 55-65 days. The thick, succulent leaves maintain their quality well into winter, making it ideal for fall planting.
Kale is another wonderful, cool weather, leafy green vegetable. Plant your kale about 12 weeks before the first anticipated frost date for the longest growing season. Don’t worry about a frost ruining this crop, it is cold tolerant to the 20s, and even down to 10°F once it’s established.
‘Lacinato/Tuscan’ features dark blue-green, strap-like leaves with a bumpy texture and sweet, nutty flavor. This Italian heirloom is extremely cold-hardy and actually improves in taste after frost. You can begin harvesting baby leaves in as little as one month, with mature leaves ready in 60-70 days.
4. Carrots
Carrots thrive in cool fall weather when the soil is still warm but air temperatures are dropping. Sow seeds 10-12 weeks before hard frost for winter storage varieties. These root vegetables can withstand temperatures down to 20°F when mulched and actually develop sweeter flavor after cold exposure.
‘New Kuroda’ is a Japanese variety producing 8-inch, orange-red roots with exceptional sweetness and crisp texture. It stores well and has excellent cold tolerance. Harvest in 70-80 days for peak flavor and storage quality.
5. Radishes
Radishes are among the fastest-growing fall vegetables, perfect for quick results in cooling weather. Plant 4-8 weeks before first frost for continuous harvests. Most varieties tolerate light frosts and develop crisper texture in cool conditions.
‘Cherry Belle’ and ‘White Icicle’ offer contrasting shapes and flavors. Cherry Belle produces round, bright red roots with white flesh in just 22-25 days, while White Icicle forms long, slender white roots with mild flavor in 25-30 days. Both maintain quality well in cool weather.
6. Broccoli
Broccoli transplants love the transition from warm soil to cool air that September provides. Set out transplants 12-14 weeks before hard frost for main heads, with side shoots continuing production into winter. This crop actually prefers cool weather and can handle temperatures down to 25°F.
‘Green Magic’ produces tight, dome-shaped heads with excellent heat tolerance during establishment and superior cold tolerance for extended harvest. Main heads mature in 60-65 days with abundant side shoots following.
7. Garlic
Garlic requires a completely different approach – plant individual cloves 6-8 weeks before ground freezes for harvest the following summer. This crop needs winter’s cold period to form bulbs properly. Choose hardneck varieties for northern regions, softneck for warmer areas.
‘Music’ is a hardneck variety producing large, white bulbs with purple stripes and robust flavor. Plant cloves pointed-end up, 2 inches deep, and mulch heavily for winter protection. Harvest in mid-summer when lower leaves brown.
8. Beets
Beets develop their sweetest flavor in cool fall conditions and can withstand multiple frosts. Sow seeds 8-10 weeks before hard frost, and enjoy both the colorful roots and nutritious greens. The roots store well in the ground with mulch protection.
‘Detroit Dark Red’ and ‘Chioggia’ offer classic reliability and visual appeal respectively. Detroit Dark Red produces uniform, deep red roots with sweet flavor in 55-60 days, while Chioggia displays stunning red and white concentric rings with mild, sweet taste in 50-55 days.
9. Onions
Onions for fall planting are typically sets or transplants that will overwinter and bulb up next spring. Plant 6-8 weeks before hard frost to establish good root systems. These hardy bulbs can survive temperatures well below freezing once established.
‘California Early’ forms medium-sized, yellow bulbs with excellent storage quality and mild flavor. Plant sets in early fall for spring harvest, spacing 4-6 inches apart in well-drained soil.
10. Turnips
Turnips are dual-purpose vegetables providing both tender greens and sweet roots in cool weather. Sow seeds 6-10 weeks before hard frost, with greens ready much earlier than roots. Both parts of the plant become sweeter after frost exposure.
‘Purple Top White Globe’ and ‘Tokyo Cross’ represent traditional and modern breeding. Purple Top White Globe produces classic white roots with purple shoulders and mild flavor in 55-60 days, while Tokyo Cross offers quick-maturing, pure white, crisp roots ready in just 35-40 days.
11. Swiss Chard
Swiss Chard continues producing colorful stems and leaves well into winter with minimal protection. Plant 8-10 weeks before hard frost for sustained harvests. This cut-and-come-again crop tolerates temperatures down to 15°F and actually sweetens with cool weather.
‘Bright Lights’ creates a rainbow of stem colors – yellow, orange, red, pink, and white – with tender green leaves. Harvest outer leaves regularly to encourage continued production through fall and winter.
12. Brussels Sprouts
Brussels Sprouts need the entire fall season to develop their signature small cabbages along tall stalks. Start transplants 12-16 weeks before hard frost, as they require a long, cool growing period. The sprouts actually improve in flavor after several frosts.
‘Long Island Improved’ produces firm, compact sprouts with excellent flavor and cold tolerance. The 2-3 foot plants yield dozens of sprouts that mature from bottom to top over several weeks in late fall and early winter.
13. Cauliflower
Cauliflower demands consistent cool conditions and steady moisture for proper head formation. Transplant 10-12 weeks before hard frost, and protect developing heads from sun by tying outer leaves over them. This crop is less cold-tolerant than its cabbage relatives.
‘Snow Crown’ reliably forms pure white, compact heads with good heat tolerance during establishment and excellent flavor. Heads mature in 50-60 days and should be harvested promptly when tight and white.
14. Peas
Peas planted in fall often outperform spring crops due to fewer pest issues and steadier moisture. Sow seeds 8-10 weeks before hard frost for shell peas, or closer to frost for snap varieties. These nitrogen-fixing legumes actually improve soil while growing.
‘Sugar Snap’ produces plump, edible pods with sweet, crisp texture that’s perfect for fresh eating or light cooking. The vines reach 6 feet and benefit from trellising, producing pods in 60-70 days.
15. Cabbage
Cabbage transplants thrive in fall’s cooling conditions, forming dense heads that can withstand significant frost. Set transplants 12-14 weeks before hard frost for full-sized heads, or closer for smaller, tender cabbages. Well-established plants survive temperatures into the teens.
‘Golden Acre’ forms compact, round heads weighing 3-5 pounds with sweet, crisp leaves. This variety has good bolt resistance and excellent storage quality, maturing in 60-65 days from transplant.
16. Coriander
Coriander (cilantro) actually prefers cool weather over summer heat, making fall the ideal planting time. Sow seeds 6-8 weeks before hard frost for leaves, or allow plants to bolt for coriander seed production. Cool weather prevents premature bolting.
‘Slow Bolt’ lives up to its name by resisting the rapid seed production that plagues summer cilantro plantings. This variety provides weeks of fresh leaves before producing aromatic seeds for spice use.
Mustard Greens develop their characteristic peppery bite in cool weather while remaining tender and productive. Sow 6-8 weeks before hard frost, and harvest young leaves for salads or mature leaves for cooking. Light frost enhances their flavor.
‘Red Giant’ and ‘Mizuna’ offer contrasting appearances and flavors. Red Giant produces large, burgundy-tinged leaves with robust, spicy flavor, while Mizuna forms delicate, deeply serrated leaves with mild mustard taste – both excellent for fall growing.
18. Leeks
Leeks are the marathon runners of the onion family, requiring 100+ days from seed to harvest but rewarding patience with sweet, mild flavor. Start from transplants in fall, or direct sow for harvest the following year. These hardy plants survive harsh winters with minimal protection.
‘American Flag’ produces thick, white shanks with blue-green leaves and classic leek flavor. Hill soil around the stems as they grow to create longer white portions, and harvest as needed through winter and into spring.
Don’t let the calendar fool you into thinking the growing season is over.
From quick-maturing radishes ready in just three weeks to garlic that will reward your patience next summer, September offers something for every gardener’s timeline and taste.
The vegetables you plant now will not only extend your harvest but often taste better than their summer counterparts, thanks to the natural sugar concentration that cool weather brings.
Khaja Moinuddin, a computer science graduate, finds joy in gardening and homesteading. Join him on this blog as he shares his experiences in homesteading, gardening, and composting
Transgender rights activists hold signs as they march through the University of Montana campus on May 03, 2023 in Missoula, Mont.
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A coalition of 16 states and the District of Columbia sued the Trump administration Friday over what they describe as an “unconstitutional pressure campaign” to stop doctors and hospitals from providing gender-affirming care to transgender youth.
“The federal government is running a cruel and targeted harassment campaign against providers who offer lawful, lifesaving care to children,” New York Attorney General Letitia James wrote in a statement. “We will never stop fighting for the dignity, safety, and basic rights of the transgender community.”
The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Massachusetts, argues the Trump administration is trying to effectuate a de facto national ban on gender-affirming care for youth, even though there’s no federal statute that prohibits the care.
“They are definitely trying to chill and coerce and bully and intimidate with threatened criminal prosecution,” said California Attorney General Rob Bonta during a press conference Friday.
The complaint argues the White House and Justice Department have carried out the intimidation of both doctors and hospitals by issuing subpoenas, threatening criminal prosecution, launching investigations and demanding private patient data.
“The result is an atmosphere of fear and intimidation experienced by transgender individuals, their families and caregivers, and the medical professionals who seek only to provide necessary, lawful care to their patients,” the lawsuit states.
The Trump administration is using a law that makes it a felony to perform female genital mutilation on anyone under 18 to threaten legal action against providers and hospitals; U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi wrote that it applies to certain types of gender-affirming surgery — even though it’s extremely rare for transgender minors to have surgery.
The Department of Justice has also cited laws meant to stop Medicaid fraud, and food and drug safety laws. The reasoning being that hormone therapy is a drug, and it is being misused.
Bonta dismissed that legal reasoning out of hand.
“They are definitely waging the culture wars, they are definitely playing politics. What they’re not doing is practicing law,” Bonta added.
NPR reached out to federal officials for comment. In an emailed statement, the White House said President Trump has the authority to stop treatment that it describes as “mutilation and chemical castration of children.”
The statement went on to say the administration expects “ultimate victory” on this issue.
Families of transgender young people sued Trump over access to care in early February in a case called PFLAG v. Trump. That litigation is ongoing.
Republican lawmakers and state attorneys general have challenged the basis of those recommendations, arguing that the evidence used to support them is insubstantial.
The Trump administration’s Department of Health and Human Services published its own review of the evidence, which concluded that gender-affirming care for youth should be curtailed. The AAP and the AMA have stood by their positions.
Several prominent clinics offering gender-affirming care at children’s hospitals have closed in recent weeks as a result of the Trump administration’s actions, including one in Los Angeles and another in Washington, D.C.
Those closures are happening in places where the care is legal.
Since 2021, more than half of U.S. states have banned gender-affirming care for youth. The Supreme Court recently ruled that Tennessee’s ban did not violate the Constitution.
In some rural states as well, hospitals are shutting down the clinical programs, forcing patients and their parents to travel much farther for care, if they can find it.
In Montana, Community Medical Center in Missoula was the last hospital offering care for transgender youth, until it closed its gender clinic in June. The hospital cited the state and federal regulatory environment.
Some private pediatricians are still offering this care, but the families NPR spoke to were unaware of who they were.
For some patients and families, the hospital’s decision felt like a betrayal.
“I feel it’s their job as health care providers, is to stand up to this and to say this is care that saves lives, which they didn’t do,” said Liz, 18, a patient from Missoula. NPR agreed to identify Liz by her first name only, because she fears for her safety because she’s transgender.
Liz plans to drive to Seattle Children’s for care, but doesn’t assume she’ll be able to continue treatment there.
“They’re going to see even more of an influx of patients, and can they take that many people? How far out does their waitlist become?” she said.
Seattle Children’s didn’t respond to an interview request about its plans to continue serving transgender kids.
Community Medical Center’s decision also hit hard for E’s family in Missoula. E’s daughter is transgender and about a year away from puberty. They had planned to start puberty blockers, and eventually use hormone replacement therapy.
NPR has agreed to identify E by her middle initial only because she worries about harassment and violence against her family.
It was hard to tell her daughter that the hospital had stopped treatment, E said.
“To her, it wasn’t even a thought [that] it wouldn’t happen. She was like, ‘I’m a girl, so when I go through puberty, I’m going through girl puberty,'” E said.
President Trump and the Republican party campaigned on anti-trans messages in the last election.
On inauguration day in January, Trump declared through executive order that there are only two sexes, which are determined at conception and are unchangeable. He then signed another executive order entitled “Protecting Children From Chemical and Surgical Mutilation.”
The executive order reads: “Across the country today, medical professionals are maiming and sterilizing a growing number of impressionable children under the radical and false claim that adults can change a child’s sex through a series of irreversible medical interventions.” This trend, it continues, “must end.”
The Trump administration has also targeted schools and hospitals that affirm transgender youth, limited the participation of trans people in sports and the military, required that passports reflect a person’s sex at birth and canceled millions in funding for LGBTQ+ health research. Some of these efforts have been challenged or blocked in the courts.
Semi-evergreen types will remain evergreen in warmer locations, and drop their leaves in cooler growing zones.
In our guide to growing cotoneaster, you’ll learn that they’re very easy to care for – a little spring pruning for shape if needed, and that’s about it for maintenance!
Sound like a plant-and-forget shrub your garden needs?
Then join us now for a look at 21 of the best cotoneaster varieties for ground covers, hedges, and more!
Here they are:
21 of the Best Cotoneaster Varieties for Your Garden
It should be noted that some species have escaped garden cultivation and are considered invasive in certain coastal areas in North America such as British Columbia, California, the Great Lakes states, Hawaii, and the Pacific Northwest, as well as in parts of Australia, New Zealand, and western Europe.
You may wish to check with your local extension office or the USDA invasive plants list before planting, to ensure that your chosen variety is not considered invasive in your area.
1. Bearberry
Bearberry, C. dammeri, has low, trailing stems that grow up to 10 feet long, with a height that ranges from six to 24 inches.
An evergreen, the ovate leaves are deep green and glossy, turning reddish-purple in the fall. The stems are covered with a showy display of single white flowers in late spring followed by bright red berries through fall and winter.
Bearberry cotoneaster is a versatile shrub that can be used for borders, ground covers, atop retaining walls, or for soil stabilization. Hardy in Zones 5 to 9, plants are semi-evergreen in colder areas.
The black-fruited C. melanocarpus is a mid-sized shrub with a rounded form and is extremely drought tolerant once established.
Abundant panicles of pinky-white flowers appear in late spring and pomes emerge as deep orange or red, then ripen to a rich, purplish black.
The glossy, ovate leaves shine in blazing shades of orange, red, and yellow in fall.
Suitable for cultivation in Zones 3 to 7, black-fruited cotoneaster is a deciduous shrub used for borders, hedges, and bank stability. It has a height and spread of four to eight feet.
3. Cranberry
Cranberry cotoneaster, C. apiculatus, is low and sprawling with fine-textured foliage and long, trailing stems. Plants grow up to 18 inches tall and spread three to six feet.
Pink blooms appear in spring, then a profusion of bright red berries in fall, with round, glossy leaves that turn red to burgundy in autumn.
This deciduous species is a beautiful choice for a low barrier, ground cover, rockeries, or for slope and bank stabilization. Plants are suitable for cultivation in Zones 4 to 7.
C. adpressus, aka creeping cotoneaster, are compact deciduous plants with trailing stems that reach up to six feet long with a height of only 12 inches.
Pinky red flowers are followed by dark red berries and deep burgundy fall colors. This species is hardy in Zones 4 to 7 and is highly drought tolerant once established.
Most effective when used for borders, ground covers, and in rockeries. It’s also a popular choice for topiary and bonsai.
A good choice for regions with cool summers, the deciduous European species, C. integerrimus, has a multi-stemmed, upright growth of five to eight feet with a similar spread.
In late spring, the stems are covered with attractive, small cream flowers and dense foliage, then an abundance of rose-colored berries.
Many years ago, I switched to natural cleaning products. Since then, I’ve found a lot of great recipes, tricks, and shortcuts. They’ve not only taken the toxins out of daily life, but made our house cleaner, fresher, and faster to clean!
One of the simplest cleaning hacks I’ve found is something you probably already have in your pantry.
Distilled white vinegar (also available in organic versions) is a cleaning powerhouse. I know, I know, you don’t want your house to smell like pickles. Don’t worry, the smell fades when it dries and you can easily mask it with a few drops of essential oil.
How to Clean With Vinegar
There are so many things around the home that you can clean with vinegar. There are a few things though that vinegar can damage. Since vinegar is acetic acid, it has a low pH that can dissolve certain substances.
Things You Should Not Clean With Vinegar
While vinegar is a weak acid, it’s still powerful enough to damage certain surfaces. Here are a few things around the home that could be damaged by cleaning with vinegar.
Finished wood – I found adding a little vinegar to my mop bucket did great on my hardwood floors. However using too much or on certain types of wood can damage the finish. The same goes for furniture.
Mold – Yes, vinegar does kill mold and I have used it for that. However the danger is you may just be scratching the surface of a bigger problem. See more below.
Dishwashers and Washing Machines – Again, this one is controversial. Adding too much vinegar to these or using it too often can damage the rubber components over time.
Stone Countertops – Vinegar can damage granite, marble, and natural stone countertops.
Tile grout – Using diluted vinegar on occasion is a great way to give sealed grout a deep clean. Too much and too often though can erode the grout.
Here’s how I’ve used vinegar to clean around the house:
Stains
With lots of kids, I’ve gotten plenty of practice with stains. White clothes especially seem to attract stains like a magnet. The most effective treatment I’ve found so far is pouring undiluted vinegar onto the stain and washing as normal. This also works great for wine, tomato sauce, or other spills on carpet. Immediately pour vinegar on the area, wait a few minutes, and wipe up with a damp cloth.
Looking for that spot free shine? Vinegar is by far more effective than Windex or other window cleaners for windows and mirrors. Here’s how I use it:
Mix 1 part vinegar to 3 parts water in a spray bottle
Add 1-2 drops of essential oil (optional, my favorite is lemongrass)
Add 1/2 tsp of natural dish soap (optional)
Use to clean windows and mirrors
Mold Remover
One part borax mixed with four parts white vinegar in a spray bottle does wonders for mold. Just spray it onto non-porous surfaces, wait about an hour, and wipe up. The mold wipes right off. This works best for small areas of mold.
If you notice mold in the home this can indicate a larger, more serious issue. The mold you see may just be the tip of the iceberg. Here’s more about toxic mold, how to tell if you have it, and what to do.
Hardwood Floors
Our last house had all hardwood floors, and this meant a lot of mopping for me. I found that 1/3 to 2/3 cup of white vinegar in a gallon of warm water cleans hardwoods very quickly and easily. Be careful though as vinegar can damage certain wood finishes. Check with the manufacturer if possible before using vinegar on your floor.
Toilet Cleaning
Vinegar is great for breaking down minerals on hard surfaces. When it comes to toilet cleaning, I like to pair it with baking soda. Pour a little baking soda into the toilet, add 1 cup of vinegar and let it bubble. Scrub and admire the shine. These toilet cleaning fizzies are also fun to use.
Cleaning Cabinets
If you have food spots, oil buildup, or stains on your cabinets, vinegar works here too. Mix 1 part vinegar with 3 parts water and scrub with a rag or sponge. The vinegar will cut any grease, leaving the cabinets clean and shiny.
All Purpose Cleaning With Vinegar
For everything else, you can easily make a homemade all purpose spray with vinegar. Here’s how to make it
Add 1 part white vinegar and 4 parts water to a spray bottle
Add 10-20 drops of essential oil (optional)
Add 1 tsp of natural dish soap
This spray works wonders on counter tops, high chair trays, baseboards, walls, appliances, floors, and everywhere else things can be dumped or spilled.
More Ways to Clean With Vinegar
Faucets, showers, and bathtubs
Add 1-2 cups of vinegar to the rinse cycle for softer laundry
Use it to shine the kitchen sink or stovetop
Clean and deodorize trash cans
Use to descale a coffee maker (here are my favorite healthy ways to brew coffee)
Rinse produce from the store with vinegar before eating
This is my second year starting veggies from seed and maintaining a full kitchen garden (rather than the couple of tomato and pepper plants I would buy in years prior). I can happily say that I learned a lot from last year’s successes and failures, and have implemented changes that have already increased my yield so far this year. One of those changes was incorporating way more flowers. I mentioned the power of flowers when discussing Kimberly’s incredible vegetable and flower garden in North Carolina earlier this week (check that post out here: Kimberly’s Golden Garden), and it inspired me to scroll through my camera roll to shout out the flowers that have been making my garden more productive (and beautiful) this year.
The most exciting addition to my gardens has definitely been these Tip Top Mix nasturtiums (Tropaeolum majus, annual). This variety produces a delightful mix of apricot, gold, orange, and scarlet blooms that are also a delicious addition to salads. All parts of the plant are edible, but the flowers have the strongest peppery taste. I haven’t harvested many of my flowers, however—they look too good in my beds!
These stunning flowers make incredible color combinations all by themselves, and the shield-shaped leaves are also noteworthy. Some gardeners plant nasturtium for its ability to deter rabbits and deer, but I remove the risk completely with barriers around my raised beds.
Some of the flowers in my veggie beds aren’t necessarily for the bees but for the seeds they will bear. I will let some of my herbs, like this dill, flower so they will hopefully self-sow and come back up next year. As a bonus, they add even more color and interest to the garden.
Cilantro is another herb I do this with, or rather, cilantro flowers give me no choice in the matter. I have a bad habit of planting my cilantro too late into spring, and in no time, it will start trying to flower. I pinch the buds back for a few weeks, attempting to get my plants to last a little longer, until I finally give up the fight and let these pretty little white blooms flourish.
However, most of these adorable seeds don’t get dispersed into the garden. As soon as they turn brown, I trim the clusters off the plant and put them into a brown paper bag to dry out further. When all the seeds have fallen from the stems, I grind them up into coriander powder that I use all year.
Marigolds are not a new addition to my gardens this year; I enjoyed a few different varieties last year. However, I skipped starting marigolds from seed, opting to purchase them from my local nursery, and got way more plants and more varieties. So many, in fact, that I decided to plant some in my tomato and pepper containers as well. These giant African marigolds (Tagetes erecta, annual) have definitely been producing the most flowers so far this year.
Disco Orange French marigolds (Tagetes patula, annual) have been much less floriferous, but their bright, single blooms have been far more popular with the bees.
These French marigolds with double blooms—I believe they’re the Bonanza™ Mix—are another variety that have bloomed sparingly, but their incredible colors and double crested flowers are show-stopping when they do pop up.
Lastly, another single French marigold called Disco Marietta: These may be my favorite of the varieties I planted this year. It has a simple form but really fabulous coloration.
I hope you enjoyed this little tour of my veggie garden blooms! If you’re interested, I can give you a tour of the vegetables and herbs I decided to grow this year, with a breakdown of what flourished and what completely failed. Let me know in the comments!
What plants have given your garden a boost this year? Is a new planting giving an old bed a refresh? Did you rip out that thuggish species that was running rampant in a neglected corner? The common sentiment at Garden Photo of the Day is that the garden is never truly done. While that can be overwhelming, it also means endless opportunities to reevaluate, reimagine, and revitalize. Consider sharing your great garden achievements with the blog! Follow the directions below to submit photos via email, or send me a DM on Instagram: @agirlherdogandtheroad.
We want to see YOUR garden!
Have photos to share? We’d love to see your garden, a particular collection of plants you love, or a wonderful garden you had the chance to visit!
To submit, send 5–10 photos to [email protected] along with some information about the plants in the pictures and where you took the photos. We’d love to hear where you are located, how long you’ve been gardening, successes you are proud of, failures you learned from, hopes for the future, favorite plants, or funny stories from your garden.
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