Someday I am going to create a new series for PBS. It will be an adaptation of the much-loved BBC series, “Call the Midwife.” My version will, of course, be somewhat altered to suit American tastes and interests. I will rename it, “Call the Landscaper”, and it will feature stories about suburban landscapes, some nine … Read more
I was the tallest person in my second grade class, but shortly afterwards everyone else passed me on the growth chart. I sprouted a bit after second grade, but arrived at adulthood as a relatively short person. Being short means that I don’t have to worry about low ceilings or overhangs, but I do have … Read more
Where would we be without crocuses? They are not always the first flowers to bloom in the spring—snowdrops and winter aconite do that. But they are uniquely joyful and welcoming. Combine that with the fact that they are cheap and easy, as in cheap to buy and easy to grow, and you have excellent plants … Read more
Summer is here, but many of us are still locked in the clutches of spring. Why? Because the remnants of the swell garden party that was the spring growing season are still with us. Think of all the flashy “guests” at that party—roses, clematis, peonies and iris of all sorts. They thrilled us all, … 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
