Right now, in mid-July, the roses are taking a mid-season rest, while the daisies—coneflowers, coreopsis and Shastas—take center stage. I love them all, but at this moment I am absolutely infatuated with the streptocarpus plants that are currently strutting their flowery stuff on my covered front porch. The name “streptocarpus” is awful, invoking virulent sore … Read more
My daughter has fallen love with begonias. They are not her only plant crush—she is also having a serious fling with caladiums–but they have taken center stage right now. Our porch is home to an increasing number of begonias—single specimens, as well as those mixed into container arrangements. The luminous blossoms shine, especially on cloudy … Read more
This year has been a great one for monarch butterflies—at least in my neighborhood—and that makes me feel hopeful. In fact, the news about climate change has been so dire that every monarch sighting is a celebration. Some butterflies are rapid flyers, navigating the air in a blur of beating wings. But monarchs often float … Read more
You might think that after thousands of years of coming up too soon and getting frozen, the crocus family would have had a little sense knocked into it. The words of twentieth century writer and humorist Robert Benchley make me smile every time I plant my crocus bulbs. Still, as I carve planting holes out … Read more
In light of 2016’s many significant events, you may not have noticed that it was the “Year of the Cosmos”. But noticed or unnoticed, Fleuroselect, the Netherlands-based horticulture trade group, decreed that last year, cosmos were the brightest stars in the horticultural heavens. It may be a coincidence, or not, but at the same time, … Read more
