Flocks of Doves

I have columbine or Aquilegia vulgaris growing in my garden—and occasionally in the grass, rock wall crevices, cracks between pavers, and just about anywhere else that that is home to more than an atom of soil.  I regard this as a blessing, because most of them are self sown specimens that flourish with absolutely no … Read more

Closing Down, Opening Up

For those of us in cold winter climates, mid-fall is the time to say a gradual goodbye to flowers.  Annuals will soldier on until the first hard frost, but they are slowing down in anticipation of the inevitable.  Most perennials have finished up, with the exception of a few Montauk daisies, tall sedums, fall crocuses … Read more

Granny’s Bonnet

Last week I saw a one-gallon container of old-fashioned double columbines at my neighborhood big box store. This is a sure sign that columbine—aquilegia to horticulturists—has arrived in a big way. The plants, generally short-lived perennials, have been spring harbingers in the Old and New Worlds for centuries. Now they are suddenly as à la … Read more

October Surge

Clearly nobody has informed the catmint and columbines in my garden that the end of the growing season is fast approaching.  The columbines or acquilegia are excellent self-seeders and they have had a banner year.  I spent a morning moving young columbine seedlings to places where they will do some good and not get stepped … Read more