Tangled Up in Bluebells

When it comes time for a spring break, many people head far south to places like Florida.  Last week I headed south too, but only as far as the Brandywine Valley, a place where northeastern Pennsylvania melts into Delaware.  The Brandywine was the site of a famous Revolutionary War battle and gained additional fame in … Read more

Lily of the Nile

Sometimes the universe sends signals so strong they simply can’t be ignored.  In my case, those signals add up to a cosmic call of the Nile. Over the past few weeks, I have been seeing trailers for the latest screen adaptation of Agatha Christie’s great mystery, Death on the Nile.  It has an all-star cast, … Read more

Globe Thistle

Most of the time I strive for a garden where mounds of perennials and annual flowers meld together in a colorful tapestry.  Plants are staggered by height in an artistic manner and tranquility reigns.  The image, at least in my mind, is idyllic. Right now though, I am looking for a little more excitement. I … Read more

False Forget-Me-Not, True Garden Star

Once every couple of weeks I get an email from Terra Nova, the innovative plant breeder and wholesaler that has enriched the gardening world with scores of new, colorful garden perennials.  The most recent email announced the arrival of ‘Alexandria’, a new variety of Brunnera macrophylla or false forget-me-not. Common forget-me-nots or Myosotis scorpioides are … Read more

Tangled Up in Blue

Every year the Pantone Color Institute introduces its “Color of the Year”, reflecting what the Institute thinks is the zeitgeist or prevailing mood for a particular 365-day period.  The 2020 color is “Classic Blue”, a shade lighter than navy blue, but deeper than sky blue.  On the large Pantone color chart, it is number 19-4052. … Read more