Right now morning glories are working their way through the garden, climbing the trellising by the back porch, creeping along the ground in front of the privet hedge and insinuating themselves into the plantings between the sidewalk and the street. In short, they are everywhere. The reason for this is that ‘Grandpa Ott’s’, the variety … Read more
My garden spent most of the month of July sweltering in hot, sticky heat and parched because of minimal rainfall. Even with daily watering, plants suffered, especially those in containers. The end of the month has brought almost too much relief in the form of daily thunderstorms. Mushrooms are growing now in beds that were … Read more
Flower lovers tend to either loathe or adore tall hybrid gladiolas. Dame Edna Everage, actor Barry Humphries’ diva-esque, lavender-haired alter ego, loves them so much that she dubbed them her “signature flower.” It’s a perfect fit—both are commanding and flamboyant. Available in an array of colors, from pastels to some truly screaming shades, gladiolas are … Read more
An English newspaper recently asked readers about their most frequent garden complaints. Being a veteran gardener, I could think of a few–the string trimmer running out of string in the middle of a job, an invasion of Japanese beetles, the loss of a favorite pair of clippers, etc. But when I think about it, the … Read more
As I walk around the neighborhood on torrid mornings, I try not to be jealous of people with in-ground sprinkler systems. Still it is hard to watch the little sprinkler heads spewing water in all directions, making flowerbeds glisten and lawns lush and green, and not wish that I had gone into a more lucrative … Read more
