What’s a sekki ? It’s a micro-season in short. Or a moment that reminds you that the constant fluctuations of the natural world are really part of a bigger cycle. It’s a Japanese concept; a calendar of annual occurrences imbued with emotions. First frost. Last day of summer. The peak of peach season. Sekki moments,… Read More
Note; I’m working on a new book about daily life on the lily farm. Each short essay like this would be followed by an in-depth essay on the plants mentioned. I’d love your comments about this style of writing. And, there are pictures and video at the end but you may need to ‘View in… Read More
When I first meet with the owners of Blue Poppy Farm, we stood surrounded by endless turf. They said, “We ride the horses into the woods around here and it’s so beautiful out there. ” Can you make this look more like that?” The transition will take years. The long term goal includes Sandhills meadow… Read More
Classic Perennial Gardens 1. Columbia Eryngium pandanifolium – evergreen, soft yucca like Scilla peruviana – cobalt blue flowers, spring bulb Yucca rostrata & orange Crocosmia Verbascum ‘Southern Charm’ Spring white, pastel spires. Crinum ‘Peachblow’ Styrax japonicus Small tree, tons of white or pink bells in spring. Cordyline australis (Cabbage Tree) Nicotiana mutabilis 2.North Augusta Salvia… Read More
Black flowers always seduce us. I’m not sure why but there’s a mystery to them. This one is a seductive garden plant for so many reasons. It also has sway. It bends and bounces and moves like a pendulum but it always stands right back up. Rub your hand across it and it bends down. … Read More
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
