After all my years as a gardener, you would think that I could hang out the “no vacancy” sign over my beds and borders. But sometimes weak plants die and underperformers need relocation to more congenial spaces. Occasionally I swear that the groundhogs carry off choice specimens and replant them according to their own aesthetic … Read more
About five years ago I bought an alluring plant from a roadside stand in the Finger Lakes region of Central New York State. The “stand” was actually a large cart, laden with perennials that were clearly surplus specimens from someone’s well-stocked garden. The “someone” was nowhere to be seen. Among the offerings were gaillardia daisies, … Read more
When I first wrote about pincushion flowers, which go by the unattractive Latin name, scabiosa, fifteen years ago, I had just purchased a lovely one. It was a striking dark purple-flowered variety, ‘Ace of Spades’. Billed as a perennial, I cosseted the plant for its entire first year, giving it sun, water and a prime … Read more
In the great book of gardening truths, one truth stands out: a gardener’s reach always exceeds his or her grasp. Passionate gardeners dream big, but they are always short of time, sunny days, available space and—inevitably—money. This is not necessarily a bad thing. Lack of cash or at least the necessity of sticking to a … Read more
