Stories About Gardening
Planting Trees. Building Ponds. Listening Fathers.
“We’ll plant the cypress grove over here. See? We’ll curve it this way.” I walk along the muddy bank, swinging my arms in a broad curve. “Yeah, I like that. Blends the cypress pond into the garden. Dad’s cottage will go over there, on the point, where the lake turns east.” Mac looks to see…
Read MoreFarm & Flower Sunset Cruise
Take your shoes off for an end-of-the-day walk through the farm and garden. Join Jenks, Tom, and the farm and flower crews to get connected with the earth. Lots of lilies and lots of veggies will be ready, we’ll learn about them as well as soil building, farming, and connoisseur plants — with a glass…
Read MoreBamboo Privacy Hedge in a Narrow Space
25 years ago, the real estate agents didn’t like it. “Too cheap.” They said, “You can afford more.” “Iffy neighborhood,” they said, “Two young gay guys, y’all should be looking in the happening parts of town.” Ultimately, we got the professionals to understand what we wanted, what we didn’t want — to spend every dime…
Read MoreNo One Knows Best
On our farm, in our garden design work, we work as a team with a common goal. Everyone chips in for digging, washing, boxing, welcoming guests, and cleaning tools. But everyone gets to explore passions and develop skills. Sam Engler’s writing talent has awed me since he started here – at 16 years old. Home…
Read MoreMy Purple Rain Trauma & Gardens Inspired by Classic Album Cover Art
Gardens and music connect us Riverbanks’ horticulture team planted flowers to match iconic album cover art. When Tom and I walked the gardens today, we laughed, talked about our favorite old music, and lingered longer because of this exhibit. He even taught me something; Andy Warhol took the famous zipper-bulging crotch photo for the Rolling…
Read MoreConnections Between Plants and People
A Story by Summer Intern Iris Moore Every person has their own story and plants are no different. As living things, I find plants to be very personal. If I get a plant from someone, I think of it as an extension of them and their relationship with me. Hearing stories from people has helped…
Read MoreThe Chimney Fire Christmas
Conjure up a roaring fire. Feel your muscles relaxing as they soak up heat from soul-penetrating warmth of a wood stove. That’s not what I felt, perched on top of a three-story house one freezing, under a midnight blue sky, Christmas 1975. Just a boy, barely a teen, I was actually tied to the…
Read MoreLessons from Grass Puppets & Youngsters
The stories we’ll tell….and a brief history of Indonesian shadow puppet theater called Wayang Kulit. . Geoff and I lead a troop of young adventurers down the sand road. We are family friends, unrelated adults, “fun uncles” hoping to inspire wonder in the three young siblings who trail behind. Not so long ago, we all sat…
Read MorePandemic Distraction — Wandering In the Nursery Fields on Sunday Morning
Standing barefoot in the field trying to click. The slick phone screen can’t feel my fingers through potting soil and worm parts.
Read MoreGhost in the Crinum Field —- A Massive Bulb Stimulates Weird Thoughts While the Garden Crew Works
I see things nobody else does. Snapshots, little fictional scenarios flash through my head. Does that happen to you? Today when we were digging the biggest of big bulbs, Crinum ‘Fiesta’, it happened. Leaning on shovels next to me, two nice fella’s who I thought would never have a black thought like the one I pushed…
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