Hellebore - Maid of Honor series Hellebores, Helleborus x hybridus (formerly Helleborus orientalis) strikes me as a very odd plant. I planted my first hellebores last spring after admiring  the hellebores in a friend's beautiful early spring garden. She cleverly planted hers in a three foot high raised bed that made it more likely to be able to see the full blossom.I planted the potted hellebores I bought in front  of a wood fence, a site that provided…

When you talk about the work of gardeners, you think about digging, planting, weeding, and making spur of the moment trips to the Farmers Coop, Home Depot or some such place. Those shopping trips can range from fertilizer, soil, tools – and more plants. Of course there is a price to pay at the check-our counter. Or, you can take the suggestions of Gardening Hacks, a small book by Jon VanZile (Adams Media $15.99) with over 300 Time…

It is the first day of spring and gardening season begins. So far only brilliant gold  crocuses are blooming, but I know it is time to review the garden and check to make sure I will have some bloom from now into the fall. My very first bloomers are these golden crocus that bloom on the bit of  ground next to the sidewalk and our parking space. It is not a large space,  but I am filling it…

Today is Garden Blogger's Bloom Day, but these  petite crocuses have been blooming for three days. Of course they sleep at night, but we have had golden sunny days to encourage these crocuses. Someday I am going to learn to keep a record of the actual names. I have four little clumps for these golden crocuses, but I can see scattered crocus shoots coming up. All the crocuses will be growing under our Lilac tree, right next to…

I love watching the birds in my garden. Which is not to say that I know them by name or type. When I look at the birds outside my window I see big birds and little birds. I see blue jays and robins, just about the only birds I can identify. I can also identify hummingbirds because the only hummingbird I am likely to see is the ruby throated hummingbird. I can hear the woodpeckers. I enjoy having…

When we arrived in Beijing on April 18, 1989 we knew nothing about  International Women’s Day. Actually, we knew just about nothing about living and  working in Beijing, but we were ready to learn. International Women’s Day, I learned much later was first held on March 19, 1911, drawing more than 1 million people to rallies worldwide. With the outbreak of WW I in 1914 most attempts at social reform ground to a halt, but women continued to…

On Tuesday, March 9, 2-3 pm the Greenfield Community College Senior Symposium program is bringing you discussion about Martha Ackmann's new book These Fevered Days: The  Pivotal Moments in  the Making of Emily Dickinson. There is no cost. Martha Ackmann will discuss and read from her new book, THESE FEVERED DAYS: Ten Pivotal Moments in the Making of Emily Dickinson (Norton) . The new biography unravels the mystery of Dickinson's life through ten decisive episodes that distills her evolution…

The Native Plant Trust, founded in 1900 as the Society for the Protection of Native Plants, and long known as the New England Wildflower Society, is the nation's first plant conservation organization. The society is dedicated to the preservation of native plants and operates the Garden in  the Woods (a native plant botanical garden) at its headquarters in Framingham, Massachusetts. It also offers courses on topics of conservation and horticulture of native plants. In addition it organizes  volunteers…

l Iove plants and books and as the days are longer and warmer I am thinking a lot about plants and books. This book Planting the Wild Garden, is by my dear friend Kathryn O. Galbraith with beautiful illustrations by Wendy Anderson Halperin. I'll bet you think you need seed packets to plant plants. But you don't. You'll have to read to know how to plant the wild garden. President Barack Obama  wrote a book that asks his…