Lessons About Plants & Gardens
Magic Carpets
In this garden in Augusta, Jefferson Hubble, amazing stone mason and friend in Columbia, SC made a magic carpet patio. And behind that, a carpet of moss makes a brilliant lawn and contrast with the purple fence.
Read MoreGarden Week Head’s Up
I’m going to be in cool gardens all week — mostly hanging out, hosting, escorting. I’ll post lots of pictures here. Today, one of my favorite men, mentors and gardeners — we started out ‘designing’ his slippery slope garden about four years ago. At the time, there was no way to get from the…
Read MoreMust Have Happy Flower for Fall Seed-in
From mid-march all the way through May everyone who sees any garden I’ve designed wants that cheerful, easy to grow wildflower that I call Moroccan Toadflax. I like that name since this little plant looks like our native called toadflax, or field flax (there’s an essay about that lovely little wildflower in this book). But…
Read MoreWhat Do You Do First?
I worked with two different twenty-something couples this week. One planning to resell in a few years, one there for the long haul. It made me think of my own place in Columbia — I was 27 when I bought it. What were my priorities? 1. Privacy 2. A place to hang out…
Read MoreI Dug It. And I’d Do It Again….
When I was little, all the adults in my life had tiny folding camping shovels. They kept them in the trunk, just in case they came across some cool plant on the side of the road. My Mother still has a her little shovel in the trunk. Stopping to dig may not be cool anymore. …
Read MoreWhen is the best time to work in the Yard?
Nothing better than a rainy day to do gardening. Stuff sticking to you. Muddy boots. Compost and clay welding into the wrinkles in your hands and that filmy part around your fingernails. That’s all good, but the best is that a rainy day is perfect for moving all kinds of plants and getting seedlings divided…
Read MoreInnovation
I’ve been reading lots about a recent study that show that being outside enhances creativity. Self analysis complete! Now I understand me and I make perfect sense. That should help relieve any concerns about how I’ve chosen to use this incredible shrub. As a vine. Nothing new really. Some Jasminum are vines while some just…
Read MoreCut, Prune, Rejuvinate
You know, when you prune a fig, the cut smells just like figs. I kept smelling it. Wondered why I’d never noted that and wondered why it surprised me. With my favorite hand saw, I got into cutting today. Just the biggest or problem trunks on…
Read MoreSC Horticulture Industry Show
This show actually starts tomorrow but I did a quick walk around while people were moving in. Here’s a quick impression: there’s more organic fertilizer than I’ve ever seen at a trade show! There’s also an interest in history and the ‘state of the industry…..Here’s an old John Deere, just like the one I…
Read MoreCarolina Gems
Today’s plan got canceled by the cold. And by the desire to do something fun like getting a new wash station set up in the nursery— Jacob and I dug trench and secured a sink. We were supposed to work with this beautiful plant, ‘Carolina Ruby’ Yaupon. Tomorrow maybe, we’ll dig holes to ready some…
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