Our Virtual Garden
posted over 2 years ago, updated 29 days later | 6 comments
Here in Chicago, the weather can't decide whether to rain or snow. It's gray and gloomy outside, and I have magazines, books, and catalogs everywhere. I'm dreaming of spring. But there's something else I'd like to grow besides vines and shrubs: I'...
A Green Thought in a Green Shade
posted over 2 years ago | 1 comment
One of the iffiest questions in gardening is this: will it grow here? Probably the first condition people look to is how much sun a plant requires. The books and catalogs usually sort plants according to sun needs: full sun, part sun, part shade,...
Where have all the flowers gone
posted over 2 years ago | 1 comment
Where have all the flowers gone?
Perennial gardens are wonderful, but perennials don't bloom all season. Leaves last; flowers fade. So plant for leaves! If you organize your planting plan to arrange that something is in bloom at any moment, you c...
Perennial gardens are wonderful, but perennials don't bloom all season. Leaves last; flowers fade. So plant for leaves! If you organize your planting plan to arrange that something is in bloom at any moment, you c...
How to Read a Plant Catalog or Website
posted over 2 years ago | 1 comment
There are lots of good sources for plants other than garden centers, and now is the time of year gardeners devote to catalogs and websites, trolling for next year's perfect blooms.
Catalog shopping has the advantage of having images you can cut...
Catalog shopping has the advantage of having images you can cut...
Care for Holiday Plants
posted over 2 years ago | 1 comment
I hope you had a festive holiday season, and I wish everyone a blooming good new year.
Now that things are settling down, here are some tips on taking care of the plants you bought or were given over the holidays:
Amaryllis: After your Amarylli...
Now that things are settling down, here are some tips on taking care of the plants you bought or were given over the holidays:
Amaryllis: After your Amarylli...
Gifts for the Gardener
posted over 2 years ago, updated about 4 hours later | 2 comments
You can just imagine what a slog it was to research this. I had to explore web sites with goodies for gardeners, go through my books for my rave faves, read catalogs, sit and daydream.... It's a tough job.
So here, in no particular order, are my ...
So here, in no particular order, are my ...
Forcing Bulbs/Overwintering Annuals
posted over 3 years ago | 0 comments
Today I'm going to write about two separate garden related chores for this time of year. The first is hardly a chore: it's forcing bulbs, or starting bulbs for indoor bloom. The second is what to do with the cannas, elephant ears, caladiums, jasmi...
Design a Garden Border
posted over 3 years ago | 0 comments
Last July I went to visit gardens in England. I saw private homes, stately homes, public gardens, and historic gardens. The English really take their gardens seriously, which isn't to say they don't have a lot of fun with them. But gardening is a ...
The Late Fall Garden
posted over 3 years ago | 0 comments
I move plants like some women move furniture. Earlier this summer I got fed up with my Catmint (Nepeta faassennii), which was taking over and shading out the native petunias (Ruellia humilis). I got mad at my Agastache for the same reason. I just ...
Don't call it dirt!
posted over 3 years ago | 1 comment
Ordinary garden soil is a miracle of life. Take a handful of the soil in your garden and sift through it. Notice its color and texture. Smell it. (OK, don't if you don't want to.) Let it trickle through your fingers. That soil, along with sun and...
