Today, or rather tonight (as I have let my day get away from me), I wanted to pick up on a discussion in the comments section of a post that Anne recently wrote regarding Garden Awards. Yes, we do read comments – even when we didn’t write the piece. They often spur discussions between us, … Read more
You want to grab a seat early when Carol Reese comes to town for a talk. She can a throw an entertaining stemwinder soaked with humor. The woman’s got soul and conviction. The former horticultural extension specialist in Jackson, Tennessee, came to Louisville ten days ago as the keynote speaker for the Winter Conference … Read more
Dale Carnegie might have difficulty recognizing the influencers of today. I’ve never read his book How to Win Friends and Influence People (1936 and 1981), but from what I’ve read about it – and there is plenty of commentary – it was about convincing people through trust, sympathy and sheer likeability. It – and Carnegie’s … Read more
Guest Rant by Joseph Tychonievich There has been a lot of discussion in gardening circles about “nativars.” Is the term useful? How is it defined? The latest surge of comment coming from this generally excellent article in the Washington Post. But there is a concept that gets thrown around in all these discussions that makes … Read more
Hellebores and daffodils in late winter, with leaves covering them removed. Photo and garden by Marianne Willburn. I’ve written about the new messaging we gardeners are receiving – that for the sake of wildlife, we shouldn’t clean up our beds and borders in the fall but should “leave the leaves” to help wildlife. So when … Read more
I’m absolutely amazed by how many plants there are. I know the plants in my garden well; I have paid for them and chose them above others. Yet every time I visit a garden or a nursery I see plants that are new to me. It’s rather wonderful. I love this Narcissus ‘Ellen’ but don’t … Read more
In scrolling through the course offerings at the University of Maryland, where I’ve been taking classes for several years, I came upon this one: “Lawns in the Landscape: Environmental Hero or Villain?” listed in both the Environmental Sciences and the Plant Sciences Departments. So naturally I signed up! I’ll have more to say about the … Read more
Lone Tree, Thomas Pereira 2020 Do those of us who have rejected traditional lawn-focused front gardens in favor of edible or perennial alternatives need to check our privilege? It’s not entirely that crazy a question. While I understand and sympathize with Susan’s consternation over an academic assignment that seemed to turn all the good we’re … Read more
When I signed up for the course “Lawns in the Landscape: Environment Hero or Villain?” at the University of Maryland I had suspicions, even after reading this description: “Examination of the lawn as an element in the anthropogenic landscape and its influence on global warming, regional air and water quality, ecological diversity, mammalian pesticide exposure … Read more
I’ve not been too well this week. For the first time in years I’ve been tucked up in bed for several days with hot tea as my body fights whatever this malaise is; I’m very rarely ill at all, and this has really taken me out. Woken at some godforsaken hour by the feeling that … Read more