Rewilding

As I look out on my winter-weary garden, I am reminded of the newest fashion in gardening–”rewilding”. It is popping up with increasing frequency in gardening publications, especially those emanating from Great Britain.  Clearly as far as “rewilding” goes, I am fashion forward.  In fact, at this moment, considering all that I neglected to do … Read more

Starting With Eggshells

Not long ago the mailman dropped off the wonderful snowdrop catalog that my friend, Hitch Lyman, puts out every year.  As you might expect, Hitch always waxes poetic, practical and whimsical about his line-up of unusual snowdrops, but he also has a long history of including inspiring quotes on the back cover.  This year’s quote … Read more

Giddy Over Gillyflowers

In the winter I tend to avoid doing necessary things, like cleaning out closets, in favor of wallowing in garden catalogs, shelter magazines, and my large collection of garden and horticultural books.  I was indulging myself the other day, when I found out, courtesy of one of the better shelter magazines, that carnations are unfashionable. … Read more

Louise Shelton

When the winter world resembles a gray, cold veil of sleeting tears, I turn to my library of garden books for psychological sustenance. One of my favorites is Beautiful Gardens in America, a book written in 1915 by Louise Shelton—1867-1934–of Morristown, NJ.  I have the second edition, a hefty volume with a gold embossed title … Read more

Crabs Everywhere

The winter landscape in my neighborhood features a full range of greens—from dead foliage green to glossy dark holly-green.  It features an even larger range of grey-browns.  In fact, even the omnipresent deer are grey-brown, their coats having morphed from the lovely chocolate shade of summer to something that blends better with the winter landscape. … Read more