Way back in 1939 Ethel Water’s sang a set of torrid lyrics written by Irving Berlin. The first line goes: `“Oh, we’re having a heat wave, a tropical heat wave.” Many of us are singing that song right now. Berlin’s “heat wave” was generated by an unnamed human temptress. Our current heat wave is generated … Read more
Shrubby cinquefoil or Potentilla fruticosa is the rose’s often-overlooked relative. It boasts so many conspicuous virtues—hardiness, varmint-resistance, a repeat-blooming habit and beauty—but somehow it lacks the flash of the eternally beloved rose. I am, of course, addicted to roses, but not long ago I finally bought a pink-flowered potentilla and now I wonder why I … Read more
Years ago I drove up a long hilly road and an equally long, bumpy driveway in Austerlitz, New York, to visit “Steepletop”, the home of twentieth century American poet Edna St. Vincent Millay. One of the plants that grew on the Steepletop property, in Millay’s time and now, is the “poet’s daffodil” or Narcissus poeticus. … Read more
My house was built in 1882. Two years later, in 1884, botanist Luther Burbank (1849-1926) began to build a better daisy. Another seventeen years passed while Burbank crossed various daisy species. Finally, in 1901, he introduced a new ornamental plant named after Mount Shasta, one of California’s natural wonders. The Shasta daisy, Leucanthemum x superbum, … Read more
My daughter has fallen love with begonias. They are not her only plant crush—she is also having a serious fling with caladiums–but they have taken center stage right now. Our porch is home to an increasing number of begonias—single specimens, as well as those mixed into container arrangements. The luminous blossoms shine, especially on cloudy … Read more
