I looked up yesterday and was surprised to realize my Heptacodium miconioides (Seven Sons Tree) was in full bloom. Even though it is mid-september, it somehow seems early – but maybe not. The seven sons tree is an anomaly in my garden; in full bloom just when everything else is looking a bit tired and … Read more
In the world of culinary delights, there are ingredients that not only tantalize the taste buds but also carry a rich history. Enter Berberis, the genus of shrubs known for producing the barberry, a prominent ingredient in many Ottolenghi recipes. It wasn’t until I became an obsessive fan of the ottolenghi recipes (and own all … Read more
I suspect most modern gardeners might be asking what a knot garden is. It’s not something you see very often unless you are visiting old gardens in England. A knot garden is a type of garden design that features intricate patterns or designs created using various plants, typically herbs or other low growing plants. These … Read more
As a landscape designer with a penchant for plants, I’ve always been drawn to the diverse and delightful genus of Stachys. Commonly known as Lamb’s Ear, this group of perennials offers not only a tactile treat for your garden but a wide range of unique varieties, each with its own charm. As a kid – … Read more
Today, as I was walking through the gardens (it is the first of October as I write this), one of our gardeners told me there was a flurry of snow in her garden. Not to cause alarm, although snow has already fallen in some parts of the United States. She was referring to the wonderful, … Read more
Like most everyone, I’d never heard of National Hummingbird Day but when I saw it promoted on my Facebook feed I decided to use my blog-post day to celebrate the mesmerizing critters I’d been compulsively watching and sometimes videoing in my garden. Below is a sample clip, shortened from the 5+ minutes this guy spent … Read more
Many gardeners find botanical names a bit intimidating. I’ve been working in horticulture for 25 years and I still find some a bit tricky. I know that others in my line of work do too, despite this being the language of our profession. Common Language The whole point of using Latin and Ancient Greek for … Read more
I visited a garden recently which was quite pleasant and had been partly professionally designed. And I tried to work out why my terrible dissatisfaction crept in. You must forgive me – the truculence seems built in. It rightly alienates a large number of people. But perhaps it does have its uses. Besides consoling other … Read more
Three false starts,. Big chunks of text highlighted and deleted like so many wads tossed at a wire wastebasket. That’s how it has been trying to write down my opinions here on why garden clubs and plant societies are struggling. Apparently, I seem to be a tad bit resentful of having missed their heyday. Perhaps, … Read more
Individuals and institutions worldwide are wisely examining their relationship to race, though often with predictably controversial results. In 2021, The Royal Botanic Gardens Kew announced in a ten-year Manifesto for Change that it would “decolonize” its collections. This would take the form of signage acknowledging the roles of colonialism and slavery in the cultivation and … Read more