Another Kind of Shrub; Drinking-Vinegars And Other Old-TimeTreats From The Garden

You would think a garden blog about shrubs would be about the best “woody perennials”, but there is another kind of “shrub” worth talking about…and they are for drinking. Also known as drinking vinegars, the word “shrub” is a Colonial word for a sweet fruity vinegar. Originally the result of old-fashioned fruit preserving methods, the […]

Succulent Style; Problem-Solving with Stonecrop Sedums

Want to solve the world’s problems? Yeah, me too…but today I’ll settle for a few specifics in the garden.   The movement toward using less water in the landscape, along with the human urge to seek novelty and beauty, has created a huge interest in succulent plants for years. Succulents are generally described as plants […]

Celebrating Our National Parks; Inspirational Landscapes of the West

You could say that America’s National Parks changed the course of my life. So I want to add to the chorus, in celebration of 100 years of the U.S. National Park system. I don’t have the most beautiful pictures of our National Parks. In fact, none of my old personal photos, with their poor composition and […]

Rainbow Vegetables; Having Fun With An Edible Garden

Color is an important aspect of most gardens, of course, along with texture, form and scale.  But when it comes to planting the vegetable garden, people often don’t think about color with the same sense of significance. Happily, it doesn’t have to be that way…color can be fun and tasty as well.     Harnessing […]

In the Garden; Stripes are in Order

A straight line….a band of color…in other words; a stripe….brings a sense of order to a disorderly world. Stripes are trending right now. As evidenced by recent spreads in national magazines from Elle Décor to Oprah. We usually think of stripes as two or more colors, alternating and repeating to form a pattern. Thus we […]

Mistaken Identity; True Geraniums Deserve a Place in The Garden

Think you love ‘em or think you hate ‘em? Either way, geraniums are often misunderstood.   Long appreciated in the UK, true Geraniums (aka Hardy Geraniums) are not as well known in the US.  The biggest part of the problem is that, historically, we have had a case of mistaken identity. The flamboyantly colorful plants that […]

Winter to Spring; Citrus and Other Seasonal Salad Inspirations

The premise is simple; take what’s outside, bring it inside and eat it. What’s in the garden right now? Weeds and citrus, that’s what. All types of citrus hit the spot at this time of year, so they are easy to add to everything. .. and the weeds…well I find the best way to deal […]

Warm and Cool Together; Finding Balance in the Garden with the Color of the Year

For 2016, the Pantone Color Institute made waves for selecting not one but two colors, for the first time ever, as their Color of The Year. Both  Rose Quartz, a warm pink, and Serenity, a soft blue, were chosen this year and Pantones Leatrice Eiseman explained that together these colors create  “an inherent balance…reflecting connection […]

Evolving Ideas; Celebrating Botanical Milestones

  This is the time of year where we traditionally reflect on the past as well as look forward to the future. There have been a number of important anniversaries to celebrate this past year; 800 years since the Magna Carta, 250 years since the first French restaurant – and yes, 30 years since Saturday […]

A Gift From The Garden; Native Groundcover Makes a Perfect Drink

Soothing and refreshing, all at the same time, a cup of tea centers me and gives a pleasant pause. The heady scent, of mint in particular, brings both comfort and focus. Sipping something warm and fragrant provides a meditative moment that can warm the body and soothe the soul.     Technically a flavorful herb […]