I always aim to be thrifty; occasionally I succeed. Back in March I filled each of the two big pots that flank our front steps with a white-flowered hellebore surrounded by purple and white violas. That serendipitous combination looked great for a full three months because spring was slow and cool. Now that the … Read more
A few weeks ago I wrote about crinums, an old southern garden stalwart that I coveted for years and finally acquired. I also mentioned another frost-tender object of horticultural desire—agapanthus or Lily of the Nile. At the time, I thought it was unlikely that an agapanthus would find its way into my garden in the … Read more
With only five days to go before the Garden Tour, it is hard to keep panic at bay. Weeds spring up in spots that were pristine only five minutes earlier. Big, fluffy-heady peonies suddenly need staking after weeks of minimal growth. The daffodil foliage must be cut back now so it doesn’t block paths or … Read more
The Garden Tour has come and gone. The garden looked better than it has in several years and I was able to greet visitors secure in the knowledge that absolutely every piece of garden equipment and detritus was safely stowed in the closed garage. It will probably take months to get it all out and … Read more
It’s no secret to even casual nature observers that we are having a butterfly free-for-all this year. Red admirals, those fast flyers with the distinctive orange wing bands, are everywhere. Experts differ on the reasons for the unusual numbers. The most common explanation is that the Red Admirals are tourists, lured up from the South … Read more
