Asparagus from Seed
Everyone, yes even the web, will tell you that if you want to grow asparagus, start from crowns planted in the fall. But some recent research and plain old common sense says that asparagus from seed can be just as productive. It certainly is cheaper. If you look around gardens this time of year, you’ll…
Read MoreThey’re Like Southerners but with Funny Accents
We’ve been on some pretty exciting trips this summer. A flight to do a reading at the famed Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia included staying in a house that was recently featured in the New York Times. The road trip to lecture at the U.S. Botanical Garden ended with a tour of some extraordinary private gardens…
Read MoreCemetery Lily in Medicine, Art, and Memories
Through recent trials, we know one species of crinum lily thrives in unexpected places like the mid-west, high plains of Denver, in Ohio and New York. Three foot tall pink or white flowers top sculptural gray leaves. You can see the universal quest for life in its robust growth. Ironically, the same species has long…
Read MoreGarden Things to Do in the Heat; Capture Summer’s Energy
Gardening work gets rearranged around here when the afternoons get really hot. Rearranged; not stopped. Gardening must go on. In fact, contrary to lots of gardening media and advice, it should go on. Think about it from an energy standpoint: this is peak production time. As on rainy days, there are some things that work…
Read MoreSlick Photographer’s Trick
You know how guys are always looking to enhance perceptions of size. Gardeners, especially. An old photographer’s trick is to get a child or a small person to stand by some big plants. It makes them look bigger. That’s why I pal around with Buck– he’s a dwarf donkey, and he makes my crinum lilies…
Read MoreGardening as Art.
This is an excerpt from an article I wrote for a subscription, paper only magazine last year. The whole thing addressed in personal terms how gardening is art. This is a more succinct side bar…. It Is Art I can only speak for me. Garden design is sometimes industry, sometimes hobby, sometimes art. I engage…
Read MoreJust a Few Pics from the Day
[Not a valid template] Some days, I’m just too tired to write. The morning started with driving, helping out the tree crew who’s working on the tree/hedge line of the pasture and getting fruit trees set up for a fire sale this weekend. Isaac made that look spiffy while Knox bush-hogged. Fire wood cutting, bulb…
Read MoreMaking More Snakes
A Farm Cycle too Brief; Beyond Our Understanding
Our farm crew is changing drastically. New interns joined on while two guys who’ve been part of it since they were early teens moved on. Jacob and Tyler, seemingly, suddenly men, moved on to career jobs. In 20 years of managing interns, there have been bad times. But not this bad. Young Tyler, settling…
Read MoreWet May Morning on the Lily Farm
Momma’s garden featured in Minneapolis Star Tribune!
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