Have you planted all your spring-flowering bulbs yet, or do you have boxes of nascent daffodils, tulips, and crocuses languishing in your garage, cellar, or some other cool location? If you do, I hereby absolve you of all guilt. Why? Because I am in the same boat, and that boat is sailing rapidly towards winter. … Read more
In spring and fall, when the garden is either just waking up or going about the business of the fall shutdown, small flowers are easier to notice. The other day I was stopped dead in my tracks by a clump of saffron crocus or Crocus sativus. The clump has been in the same place, under … Read more
On days when I need a break, I take a neighborhood walk. On days when I need a really big break, I go farther afield, seeking out parks and natural areas within a reasonable distance of my home. One of my favorite parks winds around a large pond. The pond and its shoreline are s … Read more
Back in the seventeenth century, the word “cockscomb” was used to describe a person, generally male, who was foppish or overly preoccupied with his appearance. The term is so descriptive that it is a shame that it has fallen out of use. “Cockscombs” walk among us still. The word was originally used to describe the … Read more
Right now the soil in my garden is dry as dust, despite rain late last week. I generally do not irrigate, but it is time for the sprinkler to come out. Watering the containerized plants continues as a matter of course. In addition to combating the dry situation, I am feeling grateful for the plants … Read more
