Autumn leaves have fallen. We’ve even had a bit of the white stuff, but it didn’t stay. In fact, neighborhood lawns are a brilliant spring green, even if the trees are bare and all the flowers in my garden have faded to brown, skeletal stems and seed heads that sway in the breeze.The last hours … Continue reading Let the Countdown Begin
Learn a Little, Share a Little
One of the great pleasures of writing about gardening is being able to share what I’ve learned. Every article begins with an idea regarding some interesting aspect of gardening. What comes next usually involves a good deal of research. I know enough about many subjects to know how much I don’t know.The Internet makes research … Continue reading Learn a Little, Share a Little
Lilacs? In October?
I absolutely love lilacs (Syringa vulgaris). They are the essence of spring in one wonderful breath. Their flowering inevitably makes me smile. Until now.Several years ago, in order to add a touch of spring to late summer/early fall, I added a reblooming lilac bush to my yard. It’s planted beside my driveway and sports smaller … Continue reading Lilacs? In October?
Oh, Goldenrod!
I have a “love/no not there!” relationship with goldenrod (Solidago). And it’s not for the reason you might think. I do sniffle and sneeze a bit when goldenrod is in bloom, but it’s not due to the abundance of goldenrod growing around my house. Goldenrod does not aggravate allergies. Its pollen does not make you sneeze. … Continue reading Oh, Goldenrod!
Goodbye Weeds—Well, Maybe
If only I could shout, “Weeds, be gone!” and poof! like magic they’d vanish. I know, not in this reality. And even if I could, I’m not sure I’d actually do it.Why? Well, I like some of those “weeds” and don’t want them gone, even if it were as easy as wishing it to be … Continue reading Goodbye Weeds—Well, Maybe
Remembering The Wildflowers
When I was a young girl, I remember walking along the road and picking wildflowers. Daisies. Black-eyed Susans. Chicory. White Campion. Queen Anne’s Lace. Buttercups. Even Dandelions. Some of them I didn’t learn the names of until recently when a Google search provided them. And I’m glad I did because many of them have been … Continue reading Remembering The Wildflowers
A Rose with a Different Thorn
One of the first plants I bought for my garden was a rugosa rose (Rosa rugosa). It’s grown into a beautiful shrub and expanded along the top of the wall in front of my house. The first thing I learned about rugosa roses was that bees absolutely love them. When the flowers are in bloom (pretty … Continue reading A Rose with a Different Thorn
Oh, Deer!
Not only does weeding make the garden neater, it also presents an opportunity to view plants up close. Most times, weeding frees a plant that just needs a bit more sun and some space to get growing to its best potential. But sometimes weeding reveals an ugly truth: this plant tastes yummy.Such was the case … Continue reading Oh, Deer!
What We Don’t See
I see a fair amount of wildlife where I live. Hawks hunt from high above and a murder of crows keep watch over the neighborhood. I even catch a glimpse of a bald eagle soaring overhead from time to time. There are deer, rabbits, the occasional fox or opossum—all manner of birds and beasties. What … Continue reading What We Don’t See
Welcome, Summer—And the War on Weeds
Spring departed with summer’s arrival at 10:57 a.m. on the 21st. The first day of summer is always a little sad for me. I celebrate spring and am sorry to see the ever-changing awakening of the garden come to an end. But the sadness is fleeting. Summer has its own charms and, truth be told, … Continue reading Welcome, Summer—And the War on Weeds
Pen, Paper, Plant 