It is late summertime, when thoughts turn to back-to-school, shorter days, and, for some people, the imminent return of pumpkin spice-everything. For me, it is mallow time. The mallow or Malvaceae family is large, containing nearly 250 genera, over 4,000 individual species and even more cultivated varieties. If the words “malva” and “Malvaceae” mean nothing … Read more
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
