I don’t know why my friends say that I hate change. In a single decade I went from disdaining dahlias to wanting a border full of colorful specimens. I grew dahlias this year with that aim in mind. I was egged on by gorgeous garden magazines spreads featuring gardeners who are able to grow armloads … Read more
There is something wonderful about coming back to the garden after a trip. My homecoming ritual always starts with a walk around the garden to reintroduce myself to the plants and see what has changed in my absence. And something has always changed, even if I have only been away for a weekend. Flowers bloom … Read more
Pity poor Charles Dudley Warner. Born in 1829, he was a lawyer, newspaper editor/ publisher, prolific writer, confidant of numerous famous people and dedicated amateur gardener. Despite that impressive resume, he is best remembered; when he is remembered at all, as a close friend of Mark Twain. So close, in fact, that a phrase coined … Read more
Every quarter I receive a copy of the excellent English garden journal, Hortus. It is a serious publication, full of long-form articles about all aspects of gardening. Its hallmarks include black and white drawings—no glossy photos—and high literary and horticultural standards. To my knowledge, there is nothing quite like it published in the United States … Read more
Time was running short and rain was pouring down. I had one available shopping day before my hard-won, garden center bonus bucks were set to expire. There was only one thing to do–get in the car and go. After all, bonus bucks don’t come along every day. Lightening flashes illuminated the route to the excellent, … Read more
