Roses in Winter

I grew up in western New York State, where winters were long, snowy and frigid.  But even under those conditions, gardeners loved their roses and did their best to safeguard them against winter’s worst.  My father, who was a romantic and a rose lover, went through an impressive annual winter rose preparation ritual that required … Read more

Good Garden Keeping

I have always been extremely impressionable. Last weekend I watched video adaptations of some of English author P.G. Wodehouse’s hilarious short stories, featuring the ultimate upper class wastrel, Bertie Wooster, and his indispensible valet, Jeeves. I was so impressed with Jeeves’ impeccable housekeeping standards that for the next two days I had the bed made, … Read more

Signs of Spring

All around me I hear the steady drone of leaf blowers as landscaping crews remove last fall’s leaves.  Occasionally they are interrupted by the honks of geese flying north.  It must be spring.  In my garden the same spring processes are taking place, albeit more slowly and quietly.  I like it that way.  As the … Read more