Editing

Not long ago, Scott Kunst, founder of heirloom bulb purveyor, Old House Gardens, wrote up his simple rules for gardening.  Among the most notable were: “weeding is endless–learn to love it”; and “editing is more important than planting. “ I may not love weeding, but most of the time I enjoy it and relish the … Read more

Peach-Leaf Bellflowers

The past couple of weeks have seen an explosion of the opulent flowers of late spring—gorgeous, multi-petaled roses, big fluffy peonies, and the complicated, twining blooms of double clematis.  The abundance is magnificent, but almost overwhelming. Now that a couple of downpours have put paid to all those petals, I am refreshed by the simpler … Read more

Bunchberry

I have always wanted an arboretum.  The world is full of beautiful trees and woody plants and if someone were to hand me a few extra acres—say 50 or so—I would grow more of them.  Right now, as the great spring flowering continues to unfold; I feel the lack of an arboretum most keenly.  I … Read more

In the Eye Zone

My front garden has a bad case of hybrid Hulthemia. This Hulthemia phenomenon is manifesting itself on a new rose bush, ‘In Your Eyes’, causing it to erupt in blooms that open yellow, with a pronounced maroon “eye zone” in the middle of each flower.  The petals gradually age to cream, while the “eye zones” … Read more

Wild Columbine

Last year at about this time, my daughter and I sought out some COVID lockdown relief in a park that boasts the highest elevation in our state.  As we indulged in that relief, we spotted a number of interesting wild plants, including the star of the wildflower show, pink lady’s slipper orchid or Cypripedium acaule. … Read more