The Gardeners' Apprentice It is hot and sticky and many of my plants, in-ground and in containers, are sulking. They sulk even though I water them and feed them. It is like having teenagers with foliage. As with teenagers, there is really nothing to be done except to continue the good work, and hope that all that loving … Read more
In my part of the world, mid-summer is the time when every country hedgerow, roadside verge and untended space is covered with the blue flowers of wild chicory and the frothy blooms of Queen Anne’s lace. Those distinctive white flowerheads are so vigorous that they may even spring up from wide sidewalk cracks. I love … Read more
What do Thomas Jefferson, early American nurseryman John Bartram, and a long-ago Native American healer have in common with the twenty-first century Dutch plantsman Piet Oudolf? All are part of the long history of Joe Pye Weed, a beautiful and useful native perennial. Jefferson used the plants in his garden, John Bartram sent seeds to … Read more
Not long ago I saw an absolutely arresting flower arrangement. It was composed of white roses, with a few blue delphiniums added for contrast. “White roses,” I thought, “Why doesn’t my garden have more white roses?” I am not sure what the answer is to that question. I do have three white-flowered bushes, but overall, … Read more
In my part of the world we have not had substantial, soaking rain for nearly a week. It is now officially high summer, with the kind of pervasive hot weather that makes and lawns and gardens extra thirsty. Those fortunate pieces of earth watered by in-ground irrigation systems are much less parched, but even they … Read more
