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
There is no doubt about it. Wind and wet snow wreak havoc in gardens. This past winter wind weakened branches and wet snow brought them down, except on days when wet snow weakened branches and wind brought them down. The sad results have been visible for the past few weeks on every curb in the … Read more
I have always told people that there are no headaches in the garden. There are also no social faux pas, ranting politicians or demanding bosses. Some people, of course, bring those things into the garden because they refuse to be parted from their electronic devices. I try to avoid co-mingling of digging and devices because … Read more
I have always loved the October light, which is so distinctive that novelist John Gardner, who had poetry in his soul, used it in a book title. On any sunny October Saturday, the light is mellow and golden, illuminating the plants in ways that are absent in summer. While it gilds the landscape, the light … Read more
Several weeks ago, as I was prepping for a local shade tree tour, one of the tour organizers sent me a picture of a “mystery tree” that was growing on private property on our chosen route. The picture showed little, except very large green leaves. I thought the tree might be some kind of catalpa, … Read more
