POWER TOOLS Last weekend I liberated myself from toil, cast aside romantic notions and joined the ranks of bona fide suburbanites. I used an electric hedge trimmer for the first time. What compelled me to cross this domestic Rubicon? I finally realized that I was completely overmatched in my ongoing battle with the overgrown privet … Read more
DAISY FLEABANE The Compositae or daisy family is huge and its members are everywhere, from the toniest gardens to vacant lots. If you have ever cultivated–deliberately or by accident–cosmos, coreopsis, Shasta daisies, ox-eye daisies, sunflowers, helenium, chrysanthemums, Gaillardia or asters; you have been involved with daisies. These days you could fill an entire large garden … Read more
JUNE STRAWBERRIES One day last week I had strawberries for lunch–nothing else, just strawberries. Why? Because I picked almost a quart from my garden and it was the very first time I had gotten such a large harvest all at once. Strawberries are best consumed as soon as possible after they are purchased or picked, … Read more
BUDDLEIA REDUX Four butterfly bushes grow on my property. I bought three of them; the fourth was a gift from a friend who has since moved away. The gift shrub is a rampant self-seeder, which is probably why its original owner was so anxious to get rid of it. I share that joy by giving … Read more
SILVER AND GOLD Last week I wrote about visiting the gardens at a designer show house and being struck by the number of chartreuse or golden-leafed plants used to lighten up dark spaces. I have been thinking about it ever since, and noticing such plants everywhere I go. Another great landscape lightener is silver or … Read more
