Fragrance Under The Bedroom Window
Imagine: Carla loved to sleep with the window open. For her, the arrival of spring wasn’t announced by daffodils or tulips, but by her ability to smell the fresh, outdoor air through the cracked window at night. “Maybe we should put plants with fragrant flowers...
Cook Every Day
One of my favorite things is a linen dishtowel from Studio Patro, in San Francisco. I don’t know if they still make it, but if not you should email them and ask that it be revived. Because the message is both important and universal: Cook Every Day. I want to...
Cyperus papyrus, aka King Tut Papyrus
Imagine: Cheryl was feeling especially stressed. She had projects due at work, the kids had upcoming dentist appointments and dance lessons, and she’d promised her husband that they could have at least one weekend day at home as a family. But she’d also told her best...
What is Wrong With My Hydrangea Leaves?
This is the question I asked myself for three years. The first year I noticed the brown-gray “knitted” look on my leaves I thought it was wind damage. In 2014 we’d had a spring wind storm after the leaves had emerged, and I thought that’s what...
Crowdfunding A Garden Festival
For the past six months I’ve tried to enlist the help of larger plant companies to help cultivate the Cape Cod Hydrangea Festival, but have had no luck. But this week, I had an ah-ha! moment. “Why go big when we can go small?” I thought. Many smaller donations just...
Picking Treasure: I love Highbush Blueberries
Imagine: Frank planted over 45 blueberry bushes on the corner of his property almost 25 years ago. Originally he planned for these to be picked by his children and grandchildren and for the first five years that proved to be the case. But his sons and daughter got...
David, Goliath, and the Negative Nosy Neighbor ~ A Weed Story ~
David was thrilled with his new house. After years of renting, this was the first home he’d ever owned. He loved the size (small), the location (on a quiet cul-de-sac) and the stand of trees next to the driveway. What he didn’t love was the weed-filled slope next to...
Soil Amendment From The Top Down
People often ask about fertilizing in the spring, but many ignore how Nature fertilizes and amends soil. There is no little Fertilizer Fairy flitting around the woods and fields pouring blue liquids or time-release pellets. Nature amends soil, and fertilizes, by...
Hellebore House
People who live in neighborhoods with sidewalks are so lucky. It’s easy to walk past area yards and gardens, and appreciate plantings that might otherwise be ignored by driving past at 30 miles an hour. So I enjoy visiting in places where sidewalks provide safe...