My friend Kirk Brown posted this Ogden Nash poem on his Facebook page today, an annual tradition for him. I have always loved Ogden Nash...as a girl, his poetry and Dr.Suess's books started me rhyming, an activity I...
Poems for a New Year
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C. L. Fornari's Blog
What We Treasure
When I was going into the 7th grade my family moved from Muncie, Indiana to Stevens Point, Wisconsin. Instead of the one-day drive north, however,...
Words To Live By
There are times when we need to speak up, be bold, suggest new approaches and plant differently. It's not always appreciated, welcomed or accepted....
I Love Southern Comfort…Heuchera, That Is
Name: Heuchera ‘Southern Comfort’ Type of Plant: There are seemingly hundreds of varieties of the plant we used to call “coral bells” but this has...
Succulent Plant Crafts
If you have something that's made of wire, you have the beginning of a great plant craft project or succulent display. Since succulents don't need...
Don’t Just Pin It, PLANT It!
Now don't get me wrong...I love Pinterest. I have a series of boards ranging from gardens to books, creative interiors to great tasting recipes. I...
Herbs for the Cocktail Hour Garden
Over the next few weeks I'll be featuring some must-have plants for your cocktail hour garden. Many of these are featured in the newly published The...
I Love Gold Mop Cypress
Name: Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘Golden Mop” aka gold mop cypress Type of Plant: A needled, thread-leaf evergreen…or shall we say ever yellow-green....
How Books Grow
Many who follow this blog are also people who value books about gardening and beyond. First and foremost, this blog post is a thank you note. Garden...
Garden Centerpieces
I volunteered to provide the April centerpieces for a horticulture group I belong to, and I had a vision of honoring plants and their spring...
Daily Yard and Garden Tips
I've given myself a new challenge: post a tweet with a tip for the landscape and garden every day. You can see how I do by following me on...
I Love Cornus kousa ‘Satomi’
Name: Cornus kousa ‘Satomi’ aka the pink kousa dogwood. Type of Plant: Kousa dogwoods are lovely small trees that are hardy in Zones 5-8. Most...
Local Flowers, Businesses, Gardens and Beyond…
As many of you know, I'm a huge supporter of the Cape Cod Hydrangea Festival. Ten days of private gardens that are open to the public, and the...
Colors For The Evening Garden
Do you have a garden that is hit by the rays of the sun in early morning or at sunset? Do you have (or want) a firepit? If so, pay attention to the...
I Love Tropical Hibiscus
Name: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis aka tropical hibiscus Type of Plant: This is a shrub in warmer climates, but a tropical container plant for those of...
Horticultural Hotline: Money DOES Grow on Trees!
In a news conference today three of the countries largest growers of ornamental plants jointly announced the release of a new species and cultivar...
What To Do With Leftover Spiral Ham
Did you have a spiral ham for Easter? As good as this is, ham is a rich, salty meat and a little goes a long way. Here's a recipe for making ham...
Planting Bare Root Peonies
When I spoke at the Boston Flower Show recently I stopped by the Peony's Envy booth. I'd chatted with Kathleen Gagan on The Garden Lady earlier in...
I Love Lenten Rose Hellebores
Name: Helleborus orientalis aka Lenten rose hellebore. Type of Plant: This is a perennial that is evergreen and grows best in part shade to full...