GARDENS PRESERVED Horticulturists and historians love to debate things, and one of the most interesting debates among them has been about preserving gardens. The question is, “Can a notable garden still be notable after its guiding spirit dies?” The corollary to that is, “Should a notable garden stay the same after its guiding spirit dies?” … Read more
GERBERA DAISIES When I was a young, foolish gardener, I was a tremendous plant snob. I looked down my nose at petunias, dahlias, gladiolas, hybrid tea roses and gerbera daisies. They were common plants, in my lofty opinion, pretty enough if you weren’t too choosey, but certainly not anything that I would want in my … Read more
BAPTISIA Early every year, loud public relations fanfares blast throughout the horticultural world as various trade associations announce their special plant “selections” or prize picks for the upcoming growing season. More often than not, the honored plants are new introductions. The Perennial Plant Association (PPA), which is devoted to the promotion of herbaceous perennials, follows … Read more
WINTER GARDENER A couple of nights ago, I got tired of being an armchair gardener. Having overdosed on glossy catalog copy and over-the-top catalog photos, I longed to get out and do more than just walk around my frozen garden. I felt my muscles atrophying. The weather was relatively mild. The butterfly bushes screamed to … Read more
SOLDIER OF FORTUNEI When you buy a house, certain things come with the property. If the house is old, like mine, you get creaky steps, sloping floors and strange nighttime noises that defy explanation. When we bought our house eleven years ago, we also got Euonymus fortunei, sometimes known as “winter creeper.” Winter creeper did … Read more
