Stories About Gardening
Artisans, Craftsmen and the Foundations of Garden Design
Sometimes I felt as if I was torn between being a scientist and an artist. So I compromised and became a horticulturist. — from the design chapter, Finding The Spirit, of Deep Rooted Wisdom, …. I’m too dirty to make gardeny-decorator things that look neat on Pinterest. Sure I can make cool stuff from left…
Read MoreMy First Crinum Lily is About 75 Years Old
After tons of delicate spring flowers, I’m ready for some bold color and big textures. Every year, I feel the same. In garden design, I always seek contrasting textures— which is kind of tough in spring since we have lots of new, tiny leaves and delicate flowers. Crinum bulbispermum is pushing into flower this second…
Read MoreOver-The-Top-Garden-Displays
I’ve said two things to people recently that sort of shocked them. First, “I just don’ t like garden shows.” I’ve been to them — from Chelsea in England to San Francisco. I’ve even spoken at the Northwest Flower Show years ago. They just don’t turn me on; I’d rather be outside though I…
Read MoreMilling Pine Trees for Lumber to Build A Garden Shed
The tree guys call these hazard trees. That’s the professional jargon for a tree that might fall on someone or something. I called these particular pines spectacular; 120′ tall ancient beings that helped define the character of this garden, in fact, the charm of this entire part of town. The owners of the garden did…
Read MoreGarden & Dog Road Trip
Thousands of pictures wait to be edited: high end malls with extravagant palm plantings, blue water swim days at the dog beach, vine laden tropical gardens, and brilliant displays of plants at the Tropical Plants and Landscape Show. Friends and gag pics. Dog profiles and gardens. A 1,700 mile road trip to south Florida with…
Read MoreStalking Supple Jack on the Salkehatchie
Some guys go duck hunting on Christmas. Some people go to movies. Momma and I went in search of an elusive vine: Supple Jack. To be honest, the vine isn’t rare, but its home is in blackwater swamps. Special places, also home to cotton mouths and deep holes hidden in black water, but in winter,…
Read MoreGrangran’s Gumdrop Tree
My grandfather cooked. He set the table with “Old Britain Castles” china; he painted and gardened. Maybe because the lessons were so constant, from birth on, I don’t recall him teaching me gardening things. But I know the palmetto tree by the back steps was one he dug up on Hunting Island; I know he…
Read MoreTom Writes About Hay Day
Beech Island, South Carolina. The City of two untruths. There’s no beach, and there’s no island. There is a third untruth, but I’m ahead of myself. Jenks and I went to see our friend and neighbor Mark, on Friday morning. His Thanksgiving was as perfect as ours. Mark grows and bales a beautiful, healthy hay,…
Read MoreConjunction Junction; A Lady who Loves Her Function….
A young family who’s trying to mix modern needs into the garden of a historic Mediterranean Revival home. An 86-year-old gentleman, from the wrong side of the tracks, who enlisted in the US Navy at 16 having lied about his age. The person who organized fundraising events and presentations for the New Orleans Botanical Garden.…
Read MoreWhat’s Better Than Egg Souffle in Marrakesh? Mexicans at Waffle House and the Last Flowers of Frost
Gardening puts me in the middle of two very different groups of people: those with lots of cash who pepper their conversation with French and those with lots of bills, who speak Spanglish while we work. A late afternoon call from a client of the first group, then a text from a worker of the…
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