Sometimes you can spend years wishing for a particular plant. You finally conquer distractions, procrastination, and financial considerations and install it in the garden. It succeeds so well that after about five years, you spend at least a little time wishing that you did not have so much of it. This has happened to me … Read more
Labor Day is long past, and we are officially in early fall, gardening’s “second season”. In most places, September and early October are a great time for outdoor work. Plants that go into the ground now have a good chance of establishing roots before cold weather sets in, giving them a head start on next … Read more
I love to walk—in my neighborhood, my town and wherever I vacation. I never wear headphones or talk on my phone, because I like to save my senses for the small worlds that I encounter on my way. Good suburbanite that I am, I always take stock of the neighbors’ gardens. But I am also … Read more
In the middle of the twentieth century, the Brazilian actress and singer Carmen Miranda was a hit with the public. Known for her large personality, great talent, and fruit-bedecked headwear, she was celebrated for her “exotic” beauty. She was a trailblazer for Hispanic performers in the United States. I think of Carmen Miranda when I … Read more
As a nature lover, I am very fond of the nature series that British naturalist/broadcaster David Attenborough has produced and presented over the years. All of them highlight not only specific creatures and environments, but the interconnectedness of all living things. Not long ago, I was watching “Wild Isles,” about the wildlife of the British … Read more
