The Clutches of Spring

    Summer is here, but many of us are still locked in the clutches of spring.  Why?  Because the remnants of the swell garden party that was the spring growing season are still with us.  Think of all the flashy “guests” at that party—roses, clematis, peonies and iris of all sorts.  They thrilled us all, … Read more

Spring Thoughts

If a garden does not look good in May and June, it will never look good. I have heard that particular aphorism at least a thousand times over the years.  Theoretically, at least, it’s true for many gardens.  If your landscape is home to a lot of spring-flowering plants of the flashy variety—roses, peonies, iris … Read more

Covering the Bases

This year, in many parts of the country, winter stood its ground and refused to unclench its chilly grip. Spring-flowering plants emerged slowly; understandably cautious about exposing their petals to the freezing breezes. The flip side of that hesitance is that once the petals opened, they remained open longer due to the low temperatures. While … Read more