Pity the poor ‘Duchess of Edinburgh’. She has been handled roughly and forced to make do without her accustomed level of support. But she is resilient, and like all true aristocrats, she has made a remarkable comeback from adversity. ‘Duchess of Edinburgh’, is a stupendous double white clematis that has grown in my front garden … Read more
Some gardeners feel relaxed at this time of the year. There are several reasons for that. People with regular lawn services have had or will have fall clean-up taken care of, with every stray leaf blown away, shrubs pruned, and gardens tidied. Those gangly annuals that looked splendid all summer thanks to in-ground irrigation, have … Read more
When the entire world is turning upside down, as it appears to be doing right now, it is essential to take a mental break and focus on the little things that provide joy and diversion. Crocuses fit nicely into that category. Fall-blooming crocuses are open for business now and they are a sight for the … Read more
Sometimes you can spend years wishing for a particular plant. You finally conquer distractions, procrastination, and financial considerations and install it in the garden. It succeeds so well that after about five years, you spend at least a little time wishing that you did not have so much of it. This has happened to me … Read more
I used to mope over the advance of fall, as I contemplated life without my garden flowers, the restorative time spent gardening, and the bouquets that I pick for my house. I grew morose, plucking up as many roses as possible when hard frost threatened and generally carrying on as if horticultural Armageddon was just … Read more
