I wrote out another hopefully thought-provoking article for GardenRant. But it will save for another day. I spend too much of my time thinking about frighteningly important things at the moment, and I think it would be cathartic to just do something about plants for a change. I hope in some small way these plants … Read more
Is it possible to get sick of hydrangeas? Apparently not. If, like me, you can withstand a 4-day garden tour in the Pacific Northwest followed – two weeks later – by a six-day get-away in Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard, in which every private garden and every piece of public landscaping was dominated by billows … Read more
Charles rules the ex Veg Plot at the Veddw. (It hasn’t been a Veg Plot for over 15 years but the name is horribly stubborn) This is a follow on from cardoons, as Charles grows dozens of those for a dramatic display here. But he has habitually complained about the way bronze fennel is seeding … Read more
Apparently I can’t stay away from nurseries, especially the large ones that are well stocked even in late August. My excuse for going there this week was to find a replacement for a ‘Golden Mop’ Threadleaf False Cypress (Chamaecyparis pisifera – above) that I wrongly assumed didn’t need watering during our long, very hot drought … Read more
As a recovering software engineer, I sometimes miss geek culture. So, when Mike (the software engineer who keeps bees in my garden) showed up with Pavel (a Moscovite comp sci guy, legendary apiarist in Russia, and budding pumpkin growing champ) and Gregory (a certifiable pumpkin champ), I was sucked into discussions of homemade experiments, grand schemes, … Read more
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