Friends often ask me to identify mystery plants and those identification attempts sometimes lead me on voyages of discovery. Not long ago I took one of those trips. My friend asked me to look at a mystery tree growing only about two blocks from my house. I had only a few available minutes, but I … Read more
I have always envied those gardeners who brag about having something in bloom three hundred and sixty-five days a year. Living in a cold winter climate, this is not possible for me, unless I count the houseplants and that, in my opinion, would be cheating. The closest I can get, in mild winters, is about … Read more
I have a soft spot for those who restore old gardens–clearing overgrowth, rediscovering features and researching original plantings and layouts. It is tough work, requiring a combination of intellect, enthusiasm and physical strength, and it can go on for years. Funding can be a special challenge. The world has so many pressing needs that it … Read more
Not long ago I gave a garden talk at the monthly meeting of a wonderful local garden club. They were, like so many passionate gardeners, warm and friendly and devoted to many aspects of horticulture—ecology, hands-on gardening and growing and showing flowers to perfection. It was heady company. The members work as horticulture volunteers at … Read more
When Europeans first came to America, they found a wealth of exciting plants. Some of the more botanically-inclined settlers harvested a vast array of seeds, bulbs and cuttings and shipped them back to Europe. Their European friends and correspondents were enthused, planting and propagating energetically. The newcomer plants—from goldenrod to native American magnolias—caught on, often … Read more
