Ever since my daughter was a little girl we have made small, sentimental journeys at various times of the year. In spring, we check our favorite garden centers religiously for the first plant arrivals and visit as soon as the pansies hit the pallets. We brave the crowds and the parking challenges to get to … Read more
The house where I grew up was sold to another family right after I got married, so my memories of the place have grown rosy-tinted over time. One thing is certain. The back garden was bounded by eight tall Lombardy poplar trees. My father loved them and they were everywhere in my hometown. Now they … Read more
Several weeks ago, as I was prepping for a local shade tree tour, one of the tour organizers sent me a picture of a “mystery tree” that was growing on private property on our chosen route. The picture showed little, except very large green leaves. I thought the tree might be some kind of catalpa, … Read more
A few weeks ago, at a really good restaurant, I splurged on a dessert of buttermilk panna cotta with raspberries. That ethereal creation came garnished with preserved linden leaves and fruits. I had never eaten anything from a linden tree—Tilia–before, and was intrigued. The leaves and tiny, nut-like fruits were sweet from the preserving liquid … Read more
Not long ago a friend described the process of wrapping her fig tree—Ficus carica–for the winter. The image triggered a cascade of memories, going back to my childhood in western New York State. My town had a very large Italian-American population and many families, especially those with immigrant parents or grandparents, grew figs. I am … Read more
