Purple and Gold

For several years, one of the big mail order nurseries has touted a lovely combination of climbing plants: the stalwart, yellow-flowered rose, ‘Golden Showers,’ and the purple clematis, ‘Etoile Violette.’  The two make a lovely color combination when they grow together; the buttery color of the rose contrasting with its color wheel opposite, dark purple.  … Read more

Hard Labor

Now that the seasonal clean-up is underway, I am struck once again by the physicality of many garden chores.  I am thinking of jobs like trimming the vigorous rose that clambers up our eight-foot tall arch, or pulling down the rampant ivy that threatens the mortar of our high stone foundation.  Then of course there … Read more

Rose Taming

Having just finished seasonal pruning of a rambunctious and assertively thorny rambling rose, I am reminded of the movie title, “There Will Be Blood.”  The rose in question, which grows wildly, suckers aggressively and would take over the world if given the chance, also produces hundreds of winsome single, rose-pink blooms over the course of … Read more