FALL BEGINS Fall is a time when many gardeners feel a little sad. The gardening season is winding down, the cycle of growth has slowed and the days are shortening. Staying out in the garden until eight o’clock on a glorious weekend day now means that you will end up weeding in the dark. … Read more
CHRYSANTHEMUM CONFLICT I feel very conflicted about chrysanthemums. Like everyone else I spend the fall surrounded by them. In my town there seems to be an ordinance that requires every homeowner to mark the fall season by flanking the front door, porch or stairway with pots of mums. I do it too, because if … Read more
BEAUTYBERRY My daughter had a teacher once who was in love with the color purple. She wore purple clothes, decorated her classroom with purple objects and gave out “purple owl” stickers to students who excelled in any way. As far as I know, her prose was never purple, but sometimes her ink was. I … Read more
THE BIG PICTURE Yesterday was a beautiful day to be outside and I was lucky enough to spend most of it gardening. I weeded, thinned out plants, installed at least one hundred spring-flowering bulbs, hacked back some wayward ornamental grasses and staked a few sagging, end-of-the- season mums. I checked on a honeysuckle that … Read more
HIBISCUS “Help me!” said my husband’s friend. “My hibiscus is on life support!” It always makes me feel sad to hear tales of horticultural woe from people who love their plants, want to do right by them, but can’t seem to stop them from terminal decline. The hibiscus problem is a perfect case … Read more
