The adjective “rugose” comes from the Latin word meaning “wrinkled.” The phrase “rugosa rose” means “tougher than nails”—at least in my personal garden dictionary. Rosa rugosa is an eastern Asian species rose, notable for its heavily veined, wrinkly leaves and incredibly prickly stems. The flowers, like those of many rose species, are simple, with five … Read more
There is something heartening about discovering the remnants of past plantings. Our summer cottage sits on property that was part of a farm until the 1920’s, when a wealthy local manufacturer bought it and built a lakeside cabin. My grandparents acquired the land in 1941 and expanded the cottage to its present dimensions. At various … Read more
Goldfinches and thistles are creatures of high summer that share a life-sustaining bond. The common bull or spear thistle (Cirsium vulgare) grows and thrives under a wide range of conditions, including many that other plants find inhospitable. Goldfinches (Spinus tristis) frequent the fields, roadsides and other places where thistles are common. I think of the … Read more
I don’t know how I have missed ‘Dragon Heart’, an eye-catching hardy geranium that has been on the market for the last several years at least. It grabbed me–almost literally–at a garden center, as it sprawled from a quart pot in the half -off aisle. The blossoms are bright magenta-purple, with dramatic dark centers and … Read more
There is a fair amount of garden-themed mystery fiction. Some of the books are well written; the vast majority are not. I have just finished The Lost Gardens by Anthony Eglin, a book that combines good writing, a strong sense of place, a knowledge of horticulture and an appealing sleuth. Eglin is no P.D. James … Read more
