The fall bulb packages have arrived, nearly submerged under a high tide of holiday catalogs. Since I have long since forgotten most of what I ordered at various times during the summer, the boxes are full of glorious surprises. Unpacking them gives me a feeling akin to opening the boxes of Christmas ornaments in December. … Read more
Fall means foliage and as I look around at the array of red, orange and yellow leaves, I wish for more of the same in my garden. The maple tree out front, which I estimate to be about twenty-five years old, generally makes a great show of fiery leaves. Climate conditions this year have diminished … Read more
There is something wonderful about coming back to the garden after a trip. My homecoming ritual always starts with a walk around the garden to reintroduce myself to the plants and see what has changed in my absence. And something has always changed, even if I have only been away for a weekend. Flowers bloom … Read more
I have always had a soft spot for alpine plants. Cold winds keep them short and tough. Thin soil forces their roots to reach deep into crevices to find water and nutrients. Short growing seasons mean that they must do their existential tasks—sprouting, flowering and setting seed—in a compressed time frame. All of that is … Read more
A terrible thing has happened. My sister has given me a gift certificate for my favorite perennial plant vendor. Of course I am grateful for the gift, which is enough to buy me a few new plants, but not so much that I can go crazy. The problem is that time, that most precious of … Read more
