CONEFLOWER CRAZY I am having a crisis. The plant breeders and nurserymen of this world are conspiring to drive me crazy and they have just about succeeded. Unlike all those medical and psychological conditions that you hear about on television–RLS, GERD, SAD–there is no pharmaceutical remedy for my problem. It doesn’t even have initials … Read more
STRAWBERRIES Supermarket strawberries are the ultimate tease. They are available all year long, and look perfect–big, red and handsome. But if you are seduced into buying a box, you learn the truth with the first bite. The vast majority of supermarket strawberries, like the vast majority of supermarket tomatoes, are handsome on the outside … Read more
PIGSQUEAK We don’t hear pigs squeak in the suburbs any more. Local zoning keeps even the most devoted locavores from becoming livestock owners. Some of us do harbor pigsqueak in our gardens though, and more of us should follow suit. “Pigsqueak” is the common name for bergenia, a lovely landscape plant. It is … Read more
SHADY PLOTS About fifteen years ago, the then-owner of my house decided to build a big new garage. I don’t know for sure, but I assume that the original garage was a one-car structure built sometime between 1882, when the house was constructed, and World War Two. Both my neighbors, whose houses are similar … Read more
HELEN DILLON Last year’s Philadelphia Flower Show theme was “Legends of Ireland”. It was a celebration of all things Irish–plants, consumer products, lore, music, art, dance and ideas. It was also a tribute to the recent amazing resurgence of Ireland’s economy. The “Celtic Tiger” made its presence felt in many ways. With its … Read more
