Those twentieth century poet/troubadours, John Lennon and Paul McCartney, captured a universal sentiment when they penned the words “I get by with a little help from my friends.” Most gardeners would agree. I depend on friends for inspiration and friendly criticism, not to mention timely donations of cuttings, perennial divisions and collected seeds. Last week … Read more
Sometimes, in a congested garden like mine, plants get overlooked. That is, until they announce their presence by blooming, spreading like weeds or exuding a bad odor. My little white Turk’s cap lily—Lilium martagon var. ‘Album’—was one of those overlooked plants. I think I planted it last year in a burst of whimsy. It was … Read more
If a garden does not look good in May and June, it will never look good. I have heard that particular aphorism at least a thousand times over the years. Theoretically, at least, it’s true for many gardens. If your landscape is home to a lot of spring-flowering plants of the flashy variety—roses, peonies, iris … Read more
I last thought seriously about Geranium phaeum, aka “the mourning widow,” about six years ago. I was in the first throes of a serious love affair with all kinds of hardy geraniums and was swept off my feet by the phaeum species, because it thrives so well in shade. I bought one and it died, … Read more
I find lots of inspiration in the works of contemporary botanists, designers, gardeners and plant lovers, but I also comb through history for role models. A few weeks ago, Skylands, New Jersey’s official botanical garden, held its annual plant sale. This year’s sale included a used book table and I found my dose of inspiration … Read more
