When I made my first forays into wild plant identification as a child and teenager, a handy field guide always lurked somewhere nearby. My trusty and well-used Peterson’s Guide—actually Peterson Field Guides: Wildflowers—still sits on my office shelf. Some of the plants have been reclassified and renamed since it was published, but its arrangement, descriptions … Read more
Yesterday I was absolutely beside myself because I saw the first snowdrops of the season. These brave early-appearers are double-flowered, with pale green tips on the outer petals and pronounced green blotches on the inner ones. I have forgotten their varietal name and the plant tag is currently submerged under a cover of dead leaves, … Read more
You might think that after thousands of years of coming up too soon and getting frozen, the crocus family would have had a little sense knocked into it. The words of twentieth century writer and humorist Robert Benchley make me smile every time I plant my crocus bulbs. Still, as I carve planting holes out … Read more
