THE SUMMER OF OUR DISCONTENT Summer is almost here. The good news is that plants have gotten through spring’s frenetic growth orgy and slowed down to a more reasonable pace. The rampant growth of noxious pests like chickweed has ceased and it is finally possible to keep up with the weeding, pruning, mowing and … Read more
GROWING WILD In 1961 author Irving Stone published a best-selling biographical novel, The Agony and the Ecstasy, on the life of Michaelangelo. I could use Stone’s title to describe my garden at this moment. The “ecstasy” part is easy. The first roses have finally begun to bloom, ending their long winter and early … Read more
THIS IS THE YEAR Every February baseball fans wake up at the beginning of Spring Training and all of them say, “This is the year!” You know the rest: “This is the year the Mets–or Cubs or Cardinals–will go all the way.” There is a palpable feeling of excitement and a renewed sense of … Read more
Every spring I fall in love with my garden. This happens on schedule, even if the clean-up chores aren’t finished, chickweed is engulfing the beds and the weed whacker won’t start. When I look out at the clumps of daffodils, all is right with the world. Spring is also the time of plant sales … Read more
DOUBLE GERANIUMS In my garden this will be the Year of the Fluffy Flower. Ever since the first mail order catalogs arrived last December I have been mesmerized by the pictures of double-flowered varieties of hellebores, daylilies, primroses and Shasta daisies. My usual love of simplicity has gone south in favor of the pursuit of … Read more
