AMARYLLIS AND PAPERWHITES I am an optimist and it gets me into trouble all the time. Right now some of the eleven amaryllis and forty paperwhite bulbs that I so optimistically ordered many weeks ago are in pots and dishes scattered all over the house, while the rest wait to be planted, rebuking me … Read more
I have never been a person who gravitated to warm places in search of respite from winter’s rigors. Growing up in the Snow Belt I learned that real virtue comes from toughing out the cold weather, the better to truly appreciate the spring and summer. My recent trip toBermuda convinced me that all that virtue … Read more
I find it very comforting to think that life is full of symmetry. For example, at this time of year, it is probable that something–rain, sleet, snow or a mix of all three–will fall from the sky several times a week. It is also highly likely that seed and plant catalogs will fall through the … Read more
Some people are fortunate enough to have conservatories or greenhouses. I am not one of them–yet. Instead I have a potting room in the cellar. It’s a former home workshop and not much to look at, but it’s only steps away from the door the leads out into my back garden, so it’s very convenient. … Read more
My friend Anne Marie Senior can grow anything. She can also cook anything and make it taste good. On top of that, she is a natural decorator. With the help of her husband, Kenton, she transformed a cinder block garage in suburban New Jersey into a summerhouse reminiscent of country houses in her native Jamaica. … Read more
