Golden Gingko – Fallen in Fall
Heavy frost on Monday. 21 degrees yesterday! The gingkos are unleafed all at once. As is their wont. For more Wordlessness this Wednesday click here.
Frosty Morning – Sheffies Still Blooming
We had our first real heavy frost, but the sheffies are undaunted. Neither are these pink mums. No real surprise - Sheffield daisies are just another mum. It is lovely to see them on this cold morning, with the sun beginning to shine brightly. I am thinking that it may be mild enough to work outside for a few more hours today. The garlic is planted, and many beds have been cleaned up - but not all. …
Giveaway – Seeing Flowers: Discover the Hidden Life of Flowers
Seeing Flowers: Discover the Hidden Life of Flowers with amazing photographs by Robert Llewellyn and charming essays by Teri Dunn Chace, is a beautiful companion to the stunning Seeing Trees: Discover the Extraordinary Secrets of Everyday Trees which also features Robert Llewellyn's unique photographic process. The book, and a gorgeous 16 x 24 gallery quality print to celebrate the release of this book by Timber Press is being given away to some flower lover. All you have to do is click…
Chicory – Roadside Plant in Country and City
I remember chicory as a common flower of vacant lots and streetside hellstrips of my urban childhood. It seems odd to me that I see it so rarely now that I live in the country where my town has lots of dirt roads, and where even the paved roads are edged by sandy soil and woodlands or fields. I've always loved the blue flowers of chicory, and I did know that the roots were sometimes dried and ground and…
Impatiens, Jewelweed, Touch-Me-Not and What I Have Learned
Jewelweed is one of the plants I named as a child. I was fascinated by how easy it was to rip out, although it never grew anywhere that required weeding. Nowadays, I do have places that require I pull it out, but I am happy to find it growing along my roadside. I learned that the juice of its succulent stems can relieve skin irritation from bug bites, nettle stings, and even poison ivy if it is rubbed…
Sheffield Daisies and a Mystery
I first saw Sheffield daisies at the Smith College perennial garden. It was late in the fall and I was amazed and delighted by this large clump of gloriously blooming pink flowers. I had no idea what they were, and posted the picture with a query to my readers. The answer was quick in coming - Sheffield daisies, also called Sheffies. They are strong growers and very hardy. They came through last week's frost untouched. I have grown…
Greenfield Community Farm on Blog Action Day
Accessible healthy food is a basic human right. The Greenfield Community Farm helps insure this right to the Greenfield Community. The Greenfield Community Farm out on Glenbrook Road is actually comprised of four gardens. First, there is a production market garden, operated by grant-funded David Paysnick and his assistant Daniel Berry, that grows produce for sale through the Just Roots CSA, at the Farmers Market, and Green Fields Coop. This garden includes a greenhouse where seeds are started…
Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day – October 2013
On this Garden Blogger's Bloom Day in my Massachusetts hilltop garden we have come through only one good frost, but the garden is slowly falling to sleep. Thomas Affleck is still blooming, and sporadic blossoms are still being thrown out by The Fairy, Meideland red and white, Hawkeye Belle and Knock Out Double Red. Grandpa Ott is a morning glory that is still blooming, in front of the house and down in the Potager, as we grandly…
Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert
When I began reading The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert, the famous author of the autobiographical Eat, Pray, Love, I expected a story that would involve herbal medicine. Instead I got an nineteenth century story that included a highly profitable pharmaceutical business, a passionate botanizing heroine, desire, travels around the world, a charismatic man named Tomorrow Morning and a struggle between science and religion. Like many gardeners I enjoy novels that include a garden, whether in a mystery, or in some…
Apple Harvest – Disease Resistant Liberty Apple
My apple harvest is at high tide. The whole neighborhood has been talking about what a great apple year this is, so I am not alone. Right now I am harvesting Liberty apples. We planted this Liberty tree in 1983. I think. We chose it because of its disease resistance. We have taken very little care of it, except for some not very expert pruning. This self-fertile tree continues to bear, and the fruit is remarkably unblemished with…