Summer Triage

In my part of the world we have not had substantial, soaking rain for nearly a week.  It is now officially high summer, with the kind of pervasive hot weather that makes and lawns and gardens extra thirsty.  Those fortunate pieces of earth watered by in-ground irrigation systems are much less parched, but even they … Read more

Serendipity Gardens

GPS is a wonderful thing.  Gone are the days when drivers had to pull over, fumble with maps and try to figure whether or not that unmarked road was the shortest route to the desired destination.  My husband, who felt that asking for directions was a violation of all that is masculine, would get especially … Read more

The Gardener’s Rationale

People occasionally ask me why I keep my large, sometimes unruly garden, when it is clearly a lot of work.  The questions usually come when the weather is hot, sticky and generally infernal, or when I have been overdue in mowing the square of lawn in the front yard. Of course, gardening brings me joy, … Read more

Sundrops

Summer is here and the color dynamic in my front garden has changed.  One month ago, purple and white held sway, with the explosion of Siberian iris and the even bigger explosion of tradescantia or spiderwort.  Now they have faded away, soon to be cut back.  I would allow my army of garden minions to … Read more

The Clutches of Spring

    Summer is here, but many of us are still locked in the clutches of spring.  Why?  Because the remnants of the swell garden party that was the spring growing season are still with us.  Think of all the flashy “guests” at that party—roses, clematis, peonies and iris of all sorts.  They thrilled us all, … Read more