For years I have damned Osmanthus heterophyllus or false holly with faint praise–or no praise at all. Two of the prickly evergreen shrubs stand silently in front of the house, and for years I longed to remove them. Why have I harbored such thoughts about a pair of innocent shrubs? For one thing, I didn’t … Read more
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
In late December many of us sing the old carol, “Lo How a Rose Ere Blooming,” but we in cold winter climates do not expect to see roses blooming in our gardens. Sometimes, though, there are exceptions. We are now heading towards late December and a rose in my garden pushed out an unexpected blossom … Read more
The world is full of beautiful flowers, but the most beautiful ones have fragrance to match their good looks. That is why I always thought colorful, beruffled florists’ cyclamens, also known as Cyclamen persicum, were just a little lacking. The selective breeding that transformed an eastern Mediterranean wildflower into a modern-day floral celebrity resulted in … Read more
“Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again.” That evocative line, from Daphne du Maurier’s novel Rebecca, has become famous, casting an elegiac spell over the rest of the story. I have similar thoughts and dreams about gardens in my past. I am certain that other committed gardeners have the same experiences. Not long … Read more
