Mothers and gardeners have something in common—their work is never done. Still, as the old year passes away and the New Year waits in the wings, it is a good time to look back at the growing season. Since I am an optimist—as all gardeners should be—I count the successes and not the failures. Failures … Read more
Like most couples, my parents compromised on various issues throughout their marriage. One of the most significant centered on flowers. My mother wanted flowers in the house 365 days a year. My father did not want to go broke providing them. The compromise, which took place before I was old enough to know about it, … Read more
I know lots of people who make great use of either noise blocking headphones or devices that feed music, books or other forms of audio input directly into their brains via earbuds. There are many benefits to both—from blocking out all the extraneous noises that the modern world generates, to, in the case of audio … Read more
Right now it is gray, drippy and chilly outside my window. Even though the last roses are still shivering on the bushes, I feel starved for color. Grabbing at emotional straws, I peer hopefully through the mist for the new growth on the scarlet willow or Salix alba var. vitellina ‘Britzensis’—but the little tree does … Read more
My daughter has fallen love with begonias. They are not her only plant crush—she is also having a serious fling with caladiums–but they have taken center stage right now. Our porch is home to an increasing number of begonias—single specimens, as well as those mixed into container arrangements. The luminous blossoms shine, especially on cloudy … Read more
