Growing up in the wilds of western New York State, crape myrtles were as foreign to me as winters without snow. I had a vague notion that they were nearly as important in the South, as camellias, but even northeastern greenhouses that were chock full of winter-flowering camellias were devoid of crape myrtle. I was … Read more
I do not make a habit of wrestling with trees, but occasionally it becomes necessary. Last week I finished a several-round bout with the coral bark willow, Salix alba subspecies vitellina ‘Britzensis’, which grows smack in the middle of my front border. I want to emphasize that ‘Britzensis’ is a wonderful plant. A male member … Read more
A few weeks ago, I vowed that if I had an arboretum, I would include Japanese stewartia, for its beautiful, camellia-like flowers. As is often the case, a stewartia popped up in front of me just a few days later. Despite the recent infernal temperatures, it was not a heat-induced mirage. I was on a … Read more
When I go outside in spring, I look for the signs of hope that are symbolic of the season. The other day I saw an inspiring one–a Japanese cherry tree in full bloom. Its bark had the deepening furrows that develop as trees age, much like human wrinkles. The clouds of overhead blooms were lovely, … Read more
We are approaching the vernal equinox, when, as the name suggests, the hours of daylight and darkness are equal. It happens again in the fall with the autumnal equinox, but I think the spring event is happier and more hopeful, because the days continue to lengthen afterwards If the word “equinox” is full of possibilities, … Read more
