Category Archives: Uncategorized

Midsummer Lights

Dark skies. Strobe lights. Log-splitting thunder. Wind twisting trees. A riproaring summer storm was upon us. We waited it out (nothing else to do) hoping none of the trees would twist and fall. After the rage, a last grumble or … Continue reading

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A Garden at theTop of the World

One day, about fifteen years ago when we turned sixty, a friend and I decided to hike along the Appalachian Trail in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. You may think this topic an unlikely entry in a blog about … Continue reading

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Dry Leaves: Garden Heroes

A Trail of Discovery I began to figure it out about 40 years ago, when our kids were young and we thought we were still the bosses in the family. We were middle class America living in classic suburbia. If … Continue reading

Posted in Compost, Creating compost, Creating soil, Soil, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Grand Hydrangeas of Ireland

Michael said he would think of me whenever he saw a hydrangea in bloom. I will never forget the hydrangeas of Ireland. They seduced me. And to think it was only by chance that we saw them in full and … Continue reading

Posted in Hydrangeas, Ireland, lacecap hydrangeas, mophead hydrangeas, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

More Meatballs and Lollipops, Please

Years ago, a certain company offered two types of fantastic seed tapes. Each one was guaranteed to produce instant results for cottage gardeners and formal gardeners alike. In case you want to follow up on this terrific offer, the order … Continue reading

Posted in Birds, Creating a Garden, Hosta, Hydrangeas, Native Plants, Summer, Uncategorized, wildflowers, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Letter to Lovers of the Blue

(Pink, Red and White, Too) Dear Reader, I do hope you are keeping your mopheads safe and locked tight. Perhaps an insurance policy, or maybe two On them? A simple wire cage will never do. One never knows when a … Continue reading

Posted in Hydrangeas, lacecap hydrangeas, mophead hydrangeas, Summer, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

‘Tis the Season. . .for Quince to Fall

We never know when the quince are ripe, or if they ever do get ripe. We barely notice them when they first show up as shiny green one-inch balls tight along a leafy branch. After they grow into yellow mini-cannonballs, … Continue reading

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How Hurricane Isabel Changed our Garden

As I write this on Thursday, August 25th, 2008. Hurricane Irene is bearing down on us. Her eye is expected to pass to the east of us, and so we do not anticipate the high winds, high waters, or heavy … Continue reading

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King Mullein Rides High

He certainly was not born to the fanfare a young prince might expect. In fact, we missed his arrival altogether. Yet here he is, royalty from the Old World, soaring ten feet into blue skies and spreading four feet at … Continue reading

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Top Tom Turkey Thinks He’s Rocky Balboa?

Today I watched a Tom turkey who was quite sure he was protecting his harem of six lovely hens.  He spied another male turkey and was going to make certain he was Top Turkey. He was determined to drive that … Continue reading

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