There is no doubt about it. Wind and wet snow wreak havoc in gardens. This past winter wind weakened branches and wet snow brought them down, except on days when wet snow weakened branches and wind brought them down. The sad results have been visible for the past few weeks on every curb in the … Read more
I have a soft spot for those who restore old gardens–clearing overgrowth, rediscovering features and researching original plantings and layouts. It is tough work, requiring a combination of intellect, enthusiasm and physical strength, and it can go on for years. Funding can be a special challenge. The world has so many pressing needs that it … Read more
Whenever I am away from the garden for any reason I make a habit of greeting it when I return. This process involves a tour of the front and back and includes noting which plants are flourishing, pulling out an egregious weed here or there and reacquainting myself with my little slice of Eden. The … Read more
Nearly a decade ago, I first visited Greenwood Gardens in Short Hills, New Jersey. The owners of Greenwood, 28 acres of gardens, structures, outbuildings and naturalized areas, were beginning the process of making the transition from private property to public garden. Deterioration was encroaching on the property, which had its moments of greatest glory in … Read more
Garden restorations never cease to fascinate me and I am especially inspired by the restoration of the Old English Garden in Battersea Park, London, featured recently in The Guardian newspaper (http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/gallery/2012/jul/13/transformation-old-English-garden-in-pictures?INTCMP=SRCH#/?picture=393026851&index=0). The restoration is being done under the auspices of Thrive, an English charity devoted to horticultural therapy, with the actual work completed by gardening trainees … Read more
