Goat Willow

When I go outside in spring, I look for the signs of hope that are symbolic of the season.  The other day I saw an inspiring one–a Japanese cherry tree in full bloom.  Its bark had the deepening furrows that develop as trees age, much like human wrinkles.  The clouds of overhead blooms were lovely, … Read more

Sunny Saturday Morning

Novelist Henry James thought the words “summer afternoon” were the most beautiful in the English language.  I love that phrase, especially in July when I am sitting in a shaded spot with a glass of iced tea and a good book.  Still, in my mind, “summer afternoon” comes in second to the phrase “sunny Saturday … Read more

Hellebores Uup

It is hard to get down on your stomach in the garden at any time of year, but especially so when the ground is cold or damp.  Clearly flowering plants don’t care about your comfort, because the best way to see some of them is from underneath.  Snowdrops, with their drooping, winged flowers are one.  … Read more

Rain Lilies

There are days when I want to live in the moment, celebrate the quotidian experience and relish immediate delights—like the many stands of snowdrops currently on display in various parts of my garden.  Other days, I am drawn to the past; especially when I think about people and places that exist only in memory.  Being … Read more

Spring Ephemerals

We are approaching the vernal equinox, when, as the name suggests, the hours of daylight and darkness are equal.  It happens again in the fall with the autumnal equinox, but I think the spring event is happier and more hopeful, because the days continue to lengthen afterwards If the word “equinox” is full of possibilities, … Read more