Great Foliage in My Garden Fothergilla in my garden, late October. In July I showed off the 16 native plants that MAKE my garden, but excluded my Fothergilla from my recommended shrubs (just Ninebark and Oakleaf hydrangea), saying, “I have a Fothergilla in an out-of-sight spot but didn’t list it here because after it blooms … Read more
It seemed only natural to place my planted-up containers ON the patios in my garden, as seen in this photo of my front yard. But there were problems with this seemingly obvious approach. One, pots sitting on flagstone need to be raised up – somehow – so they’ll drain. Otherwise, possible death-by-drowning. This year I … Read more
Happy Christmas everyone!!! Though I am so sorry to hear about your weather. Now: Gardens take a long time to make. And most people’s garden are probably inherited, because we mustn’t deliberately kill a live plant, however much we loathe it, must we??? Unless, of course, it’s a carrot. Is this sufficient explanation for the … Read more
Winter gardens are just sad I don’t find brown, lifeless plants particularly interesting. Many don’t have any notable form or shape. They’re just dead things sticking up with maybe some seeds or pods at the top. Not so interesting. Let the birds take the seeds, and what’s left? Sure, some may have a bit of … Read more
If there’s one thing which obsesses most gardeners it’s filling up every available space in the garden. Preferably in layers. When I was a novice Christopher Lloyd terrified me with things like this, how to have one thing on top of another: All about layering things up so that there’s never a dull moment…. … Read more
Mother Nature’s emissary, winter storm Elliott, swept through the US bringing rapidly plummeting temperatures and snow Dec 22-23rd. Here in Louisville, it went from 55F in the evening, to -5F the next morning. A 60 degree drop. The weather folks called this a flash freeze. Jeez. In 20+ years I have not seen the … Read more
It seems two of us have been on holiday. Rather a contrast – one of us to the desert, and me to — Chipping Campden. Which is just about as far away as you’ll get me from home, and a long way from a desert. So if any of you think of visiting our garden … Read more
It’s that first perfect spring day that happened to fall on a weekend and we’re all outside trying to get caught up. Our failings are so incredibly evident, but beside them, amongst them, beautiful little gems throughout the garden are calling out, hoping for some of the attention they deserve. Do we see them or … Read more
Readers may recognize Colston Burrell as the garden designer, writer and speaker, perhaps best known for his knowledge of plants that are native to Bird Hill, his garden on a woodsy hillside near Charlottesville, Va. I had run into Cole at a conference or two but never seen his famous garden – until this spring … Read more
Last week I shared photos of Colston Burrell’s garden near Charlottesville, Va. and promised to show off two amazing gardens in that historic city. Here ya go! The Garden of Podcaster Leslie Harris I visited Charlottesville at the invitation of Leslie Harris (no relation) whose podcast I’d been catching up with since we met in … Read more