After all the grayness of winter, it is an absolute revelation to see yellow-flowered plants springing up in the garden. Usually the yellow blooms in my part of the world appear in sequence. The little yellow miniature daffodils come first, eventually to be succeeded by their later flowering narcissus relatives. Once the mini daffs are … Read more
I saw the season’s first grape hyacinth yesterday. It was a little early, but clearly it was positioned in the best possible spot and flowered bravely despite making an appearance on a day when temperatures were more wintery than spring-like. Had I been willing to get down on my knees to sniff its small flowerhead, … Read more
When I go outside in spring, I look for the signs of hope that are symbolic of the season. The other day I saw an inspiring one–a Japanese cherry tree in full bloom. Its bark had the deepening furrows that develop as trees age, much like human wrinkles. The clouds of overhead blooms were lovely, … Read more
It is almost mid-spring and creeping phlox—Phlox subulata—is having its moment. You can see it on the edges of flower beds, in planting boxes and cascading politely over garden walls. Healthy creeping phlox looks like a plush pink, blue/purple or white carpet that spreads outward just in time to make you forget that the daffodils … Read more
When is a barberry not a barberry? When it is a bishop’s hat. And sometimes that bishop’s hat is also known as barrenwort, fairy wings or even horny goat weed. In all cases, the plant in question is epimedium, a shade-loving, spring bloomer that covers ground in a very appealing way. When most of us … Read more
