I live near a small botanical garden that houses an amazing array of ornamental plants, including a significant collection of rhododendrons. The majority of those plants are grown with great deliberation and care, but one of the most amazing seems to have sprouted of its own volition near a boundary fence. Over the course of … Read more
As I bring some of the geraniums inside, and consign others to death at the hands of the Frost God, I have to stop and consider the miraculous nature of these ubiquitous plants. The bright, fluffy-headed, tender perennials that we call “geraniums” are actually members of the Pelargonium species. When we fill our window boxes … Read more
Every year I put off the inevitable—bringing houseplants indoors after their long summer vacation outside. I would like to think that my procrastination is motivated by a desire for the plants to soak up sunshine for as long as possible. Really though, I fear that my indoor spaces will be inundated by a high tide … Read more
When I look out at the sea of asters in my front yard, it is hard to believe that there was a time when I had none. In search of some fall color, I planted one small pot of tall, pink-flowered ‘Alma Potschke’ asters. ‘Alma’ prospered—so much so that now, if I didn’t pull out … Read more
My garden is a riot of activity at the moment, with honeybees, bumblebees, skippers and pollinators of all kinds swarming over the exuberant asters and rampant perilla mint. All that frantic action almost obscures what is missing—the big butterflies, like monarchs and swallowtails, which floated through the garden every day in the summer. They are … Read more
