I admit to a love/hate relationship with houseplants and I don’t need a psychologist to explain it. My deep-seated ambivalence stems from the fact that most of my houseplants are tropicals or tender plants that only cohabit with me during the cold weather months. When night temperatures are above 50 degrees Fahrenheit, they lounge on … Read more
I love the stories of famous gardeners—past and present–and read as many of them as I can. When I noticed that veteran pop biographer Meryl Gordon had written a biography of Bunny Mellon, I had to get my hands on it. Bunny Mellon: The Life of an American Style Legend is about a woman known … Read more
I was wasting time on the computer the other day because house painters have invaded my outdoor space. Most of the garden is under siege and won’t be available for serious work until the painters leave. I am happy about the fresh paint, but dread putting everything back together. What is the best way for … Read more
I have a desperate situation on my hands. Three roses in my garden stand in dire need of rescue before it is too late. Each one has a different sad story, but if I don’t intervene, they will all suffer the same tragic fate. The first rose has a romantic name—‘Julio Iglesias’. ‘Julio’, is, of … Read more
Normally, when I think of lace, my mind settles on images of brides and babies’ christening gowns. Artist James McNeil Whistler’s mother famously wore a lace-trimmed cap in his “Arrangement in Grey and Black No 1”, but she certainly did not look happy about it. At this time of the year, the lace that I … Read more
