C. L. Fornari's Blog

A Postcard From “Bad Soil”

If Mother Nature and The Green Man sent you a short message about what you are calling "bad soil," it might look something like this...  

A Postcard About “No Mow May”

I love alliteration as much as anyone...it's a great tool for titles and marketing campaigns. But a catchy slogan can sell a concept that has little or mixed merit. So it is for "No Mow May." The idea here was to encourage people to let flowers bloom in their lawns...

Why Don’t All Shrubs and Trees Leaf Out at the Same Time?

Sometimes people wonder why some of their shrubs and trees have produced leaves in the spring while others have not. Often, they worry that a plant that hasn't broken dormancy yet is dead. While sometimes it is true that a branch or an entire plant has died and this...
I Love Iris Reticulata

I Love Iris Reticulata

Name:  Iris reticulata Type of Plant:  This is one of the first spring bulbs to bloom, often in flower at the same time as crocus but just before...

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Like A New Box of Crayons

Like A New Box of Crayons

Every spring as I contemplate what will be planted in Annual Alley this season, it's like getting a new box of crayons. Which colors to use? Should...

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The Tallest Poppy

The Tallest Poppy

I am a fan of John Sandford's novels, and am currently reading Rough Country (A Virgil Flowers Novel) . In this book Weather Davenport says, "Well,...

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Roasted Roots

Roasted Roots

I love roasted veggies, and this particular combination is easy, versatile and satisfying. Serve this plain as a side dish, or toss with tofu or...

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Oatmeal Walnut Blueberry Bars

Oatmeal Walnut Blueberry Bars

When Awesome Bars stopped making their apricot walnut bar I was heartbroken. So I decided to do an oatmeal/walnut bar of my own. I used blueberries...

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Hearts-a-Bustin’

Hearts-a-Bustin’

There's a plant for every holiday, and for Valentine's Day I'm especially fond of Euonymus americanus. With a common name like hearts-a-bustin',...

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