I have had a crush on abutilon or “parlor maple” plants for the longest time. It might be because I love their hollyhock-like flowers. Or perhaps it is because I live in a Victorian house and the room that I refer to as the” living room” would once have been called “the parlor”. It stands … Read more
The world is full of beautiful flowers, but the most beautiful ones have fragrance to match their good looks. That is why I always thought colorful, beruffled florists’ cyclamens, also known as Cyclamen persicum, were just a little lacking. The selective breeding that transformed an eastern Mediterranean wildflower into a modern-day floral celebrity resulted in … Read more
Like most couples, my parents compromised on various issues throughout their marriage. One of the most significant centered on flowers. My mother wanted flowers in the house 365 days a year. My father did not want to go broke providing them. The compromise, which took place before I was old enough to know about it, … Read more
The scenario goes something like this…A child wants a dog. All his friends have dogs and he is the only one without a dog. The child’s busy parents, wary of another long term commitment won’t agree to get a dog. The child chips away at the parents’ resistance until they finally give in—as long as … Read more
Succulents, especially the rose-form echeverias, have been in vogue for the last fifteen years. They have flirted with the public in botanical institutions, teased onlookers from the tops of show house coffee tables, and beguiled shoppers in garden centers. Sometimes, especially in winter, they seem to be everywhere. Though I am prone to falling in … Read more
