Tulip Dilemma

Tulips are one of the great glories of the spring garden. It doesn’t matter what types you choose—singles, doubles, fringed, lily-flowering, or species—all are rainbow-hued avatars of the growing season to come. If I could have a garden full of them, I would be in heaven. There is only one problem—competition from backyard varmints who … Read more

Asheville’s Glory

Last week I described the wonders of the Biltmore Estate gardens in Asheville, North Carolina.  Both formal and naturalized areas are glorious, with beautifully cultivated and maintained landscapes full of specimen trees, shrubs, perennials and annuals.  I am quite sure that the moment a petal drops in one of the formal areas; the petal is … Read more

Spring Thoughts

If a garden does not look good in May and June, it will never look good. I have heard that particular aphorism at least a thousand times over the years.  Theoretically, at least, it’s true for many gardens.  If your landscape is home to a lot of spring-flowering plants of the flashy variety—roses, peonies, iris … Read more