Only 50 miles outside of New York City, Katherine Whiteside's home in Garrison, New York, sits on 4 rolling acres in the Hudson River Valley. "It's a Zone 5 at the top of the hill, and a Zone 4 at the bottom," she says. We sat down and talked to Katherine about organic gardening, decorating with nature, her passion for gourds, and her book, The Way We Garden Now.

Have you always gardened organically? Yes, for more than 25 years. Originally the reason was the simple fact that I did not like the smell of chemical fertilizers. To me, vegetable and flower gardens smell so wonderful that I just couldn't imagine hiding those aromas. As I educated myself, I realized that "the nose knows" and that organic techniques produced healthier food and a more robust environment. And they also made gardening far less expensive.

How does nature influence the way you decorate?
I'm a real nature nut. I painted my walls soft, warm sunrise/sunset colors because the sky is so pretty at those times. Plus those colors make people's complexions look beautiful, too. Vanity can be a good thing! I always try to bring something new from the gardens inside to display. It reminds everyone how the seasons continually offer us beautiful things to look at-even in winter.

What's your favorite season?
Autumn is my favorite season. My garden is planned to crescendo in September and October, with more flowers and food than imaginable. It makes sense to have a gorgeous garden when the sultry temps go back down and the energy of autumn just makes me want to be outside. The Hudson River Valley provides the most beautiful backdrop for late-season perennials, second-flush roses, and unusual annuals that just keep going and going-some until Thanksgiving.

What's up with all the gourds?
I'm crazy about gourds. I grow the birdhouse gourd variety because they don't seem to mildew and I love their mottled color. Around the garden, I have four arbors where I grow gourds. In the summer they have big white flowers that open at night and attract hawk moths. When the first frost hits in fall, the foliage dies back, and the gourds hang and dry all winter long. In the spring I pick them to use all over the place: to top off fence posts, for the scarecrow's head, to make birdhouses, and to display indoors.

What prompted you to write The Way We Garden Now?
When my kids left home and moved into their own homes, they'd call me up and say, "Mom, how do I start a garden bed? What should I grow?" That's when I decided to write a garden book with good, useful information for both novices and experts.

Published: October 2007