Over the centuries, writers have spilled a lot of ink over a little flower—Galanthus nivalis or snowdrop. Tennyson and Wordsworth have sung its praises in lines of verse. Elizabethan herbalist John Gerard described the plant in his 1597 Herball, when galanthus was already old news. It was most likely described by the great botanist and … Read more
The Perennial Plant Association (PPA) is 31 year-old trade and industry group that seeks to promote perennial plants through education, lobbying and publicity efforts. The plants probably don’t care about this, but the horticultural industry that depends on them does. Every year at about this time, the PPA rouses winter-bound gardeners all over the country … Read more
Fragrances and music have a tendency to seep right into your head and stay there. This past week, as the predicted “snowpocalypse” turned into a “sno-vereaction,” the scent of a particular primrose took up residence in my brain. Now I am on a quest for similar scented beauties for my spring garden. The brain take-over … Read more
It is one month since the winter solstice and the daylight is making its tentative return. The winter so far in my little corner of the world has been a succession of long gray days with an occasional dusting of snow to remind us of the season. Most days I am able to cast encouraging … Read more
An herb is defined as any useful plant. I grow lots of them, though some are decidedly more useful than others. I wage constant battles with rambunctious, self-sowing nuisances like perilla mint and lemon balm, which are on a perpetual campaign for garden, if not world domination. I gladly grow other, better-mannered herbs, including lavender, … Read more
