Share the joy 16 Spring, summer, fall, and winter. That covers it, right? Not by a long shot. The more I have gardened, and observed, and become attuned to nature’s rhythms, the less satisfied I have become with our clumsy, generalized words for the seasons. Four measly divisions?! It’s like trying to describe all the colors in the rainbow using only the… Read more →
Share the joy 2 Magnolia lovers are the kind of people whose glasses are always half full. Even though frost may turn the pink and white blossoms to brown mush every few years, people that love magnolias continue to plant them and adore them. Their displays are so over-the-top that it is easy to forget about the dud years. Here–in order of bloom–are… Read more →
Share the joy 1 March and April bring fresh new foliage back into our lives. I love to capture this special time of year in photos, so that I can better recall at any time of year the brilliance and translucency of those young spring leaves. But sometimes, when going through the day’s photos, I have found that they don’t capture the spirit of what… Read more →
Share the joy 3 Who doesn’t like bulbs? And you can always find a space for them… tucking them under shrubs, or in between perennials, or in a planter by the door. In late winter and early spring they shine, playing a big part in the early-season show. Here are a few of my favorites, in order of bloom. Some of them are off… Read more →
Share the joy 2 Not only do plants flower in a certain order, but they leaf out in a certain order, too, and some start to leaf even while frost is still a threat. Winter flowers like hellebores, crocuses, and daffodils hog the limelight in March, but our color-starved eyes are also glad to see new foliage. Look for the following early leafers to brighten… Read more →
Share the joy My Akismet spam blocker keeps you, dear readers, from having to see the spam messages that attack my comments section every day. Most spam comments are meaningless and not worthy of anyone’s attention, but some, I have found, are surprisingly funny. The spam bots’ use of shameless flattery combined with a–shall we say–unique grasp of the English language make it hard not to… Read more →
Share the joy 32 Dreaming up stunning color combinations is one of the most fun, creative, and satisfying activities any gardener can do. But how to come up with them? Well, you can study plant combination books, look at pictures, and imagine compositions in your head, but nothing beats seeing plants live and in person and trying out different combinations right in the garden…. Read more →
Share the joy 1 I love all seasons of the year–even when there’s not much (or anything) blooming. Winter has its unique beauties. However, after moving to Portland, I didn’t expect to see much of the winter wonderland that visits the Midwest. Boy, was I wrong this year! Nine inches of snow and a coating of ice made for some fierce cabin… Read more →
Share the joy 14 Think annuals are just “plant material,” plunked down for June to September color? Think again. Some annuals may not bloom all summer, but they do offer something unique at a specific time of the year. Don’t hate them because they’re not petunias! They make their season special. With all the zinnias and lantanas, sunflowers and cannas in the garden… Read more →
