Tiny lime green flowers on this slender, summer growing perennial vine make me smile. Sure it’s kind of weedy. It scrambles over shrubs and comes everywhere around here. But it’s a lovely olive green leaf with silver mottling. And it has a strong root system. I don’t know how you’d get rid of it if… Read More
There’s a patch of paper whites and snow drops in our pasture that’s older than I am. Just behind the little shed that’s been pony shed, goat shed and now donkey shed. Those are the kinds of bulbs I want in my gardens. From a practical stand point, because they come back, they thrive and… Read More
Not so long ago plants were our tool cabinet, medicine cabinet, pantry, clothing and art. Industry slowly changed that. And today ladies tell me about making dolls from holly hock flowers. And a few of my buddies remember using magnolia cones to play war — those cones are perfect grenades. You might make a cocktail… Read More
Isn’t orange. The name comes from the Orange River, the longest river in South Africa. This species of Crinum grows along it’s banks. Like most wild things, each one is different. We grow big flowering strains as well as our own selection, ‘Aurora Glorialis’ which opens green, fades to lite pink and then to rich… Read More
In this year, when we walk let’s walk walk with big, amazing steps. Considering every every cell and bone and where each foot falls. Connect to the life below each step. Feel the the tiny creatures in their universe below ground. When we garden this year, let’s weed, kneel, dig, spray in ways that make… Read More
C. x eboracii in graveyard C. x herbertii (Tulsa Collection) in field. Milk and Wine Lily Crinum ‘Bradley’ C. species in Madagascar swamp C. Bradley close up & in meadow C. procerum C. asiaticum C. ‘Queen Emma’ purple leaf with Tom, in container & wrapped for winter. PROPAGATION C. bulbispermum seed C. americanum seed floating… Read More
Most people have a really bad sense of design when it comes to placing palm trees. That or they like the look of a putt putt course. Palms too often add the air of mini-golf or cheesy resort. Palms should fit into gardens as they do in the wild. They’re not just for the beach… Read More
In suburban landscapes, landscapers come along and keep everything fresh, sweeping away, well of course they don’t sweep; don’t let me go astray on those horrible, polluting blowers, so sweeping away the detritus of plant life. Every fallen leaf, nut and flake of bark goes into a landfill. We pretend that nothing dies. It not… Read More
Etiolation: You know when you leave a bucket on the grass and all the grass under it goes sort of pale green and white? That is etioliation. It’s a plant response to trying to grow in low light intensity. When it finally reaches the sun, it starts to turn green (that is de-etiloation). We eat… Read More
