You might think that after thousands of years of coming up too soon and getting frozen, the crocus family would have had a little sense knocked into it. The words of twentieth century writer and humorist Robert Benchley make me smile every time I plant my crocus bulbs. Still, as I carve planting holes out … Read more
Thomas Jefferson was President of the United States when he wrote, “Altho’ the times are big with political events, yet I shall say nothing on that or any subject but the innocent ones of botany and friendship.” Jefferson kept to that resolution in the lengthy letter he posted to his friend and fellow garden enthusiast, … Read more
If you haven’t thought about it yet, now is a good time to plant your daffodils and other spring bulbs. The ones I ordered still await my tender ministrations and I hope to get them all into the ground this coming weekend. Of course, first I have to rake up the mountain of leaves, obligingly … Read more
Last weekend, I found the gardenalia store of my dreams in a Pennsylvania town. Like many wondrous finds, it happened by accident. Like many wondrous finds in the northeastern United States, it happened because I couldn’t find a parking place. As I walked the half mile from the parking lot to my destination—a quaint village … Read more
Birds love shrubs that produce quantities of fall fruit. Unfortunately birds generally don’t communicate with plant merchandisers. Humans finally began to agree with the birds in the last third of the twentieth century, as the three or even four-season gardening trend took hold. Garden writers caught the bug and began extolling the virtues of fruits … Read more
