I can see a lot of sky from my house, but even when I am home it's hard to catch those tender sunrises or flaming sunsets at just the right moment. A couple of weeks ago I was driving home when the sun began to set. I had my camera with me and I knew I was too far away to get home in time to get an unobstructed view. I pulled over to the side of the…
This statue of Janus which stands at the entry to a woodland path at Tower Hill Botanic Garden seems perfect for an early January post. In this classical statue of the god of doorways and new beginnings, it is an old man who looks backward to the past, but a young man who looks forward to a new year with all its promise and challenge. On my solitary walk through the shady woods on that very hot summer…
As a Leo, born in August, it is no wonder that I love sunny colors. As a gardener I know how useful annuals can be in the garden, and in the vase. As a gardener who likes sure results I loves the All America Selections, tested flowers and vegetables that are all but guaranteed to succeed all across the nation. I find one of this year's All America Selections winners, Gaillardia 'Arizona Apricot' especially appealing. It looks to…
As I review and renew in my garden, I thought I ought to look back at the year on the commonweeder. The 5 most popular posts were not what I expected. In February Mycotecture got many visitors - and continues to be visited. In March the New York Times had an article about Femivores, women who love their chickens too much. Or something like that. I have chickens so I had to comment. Chickens - and their houses…
There were no flowers but I thought this made a suitable centerpiece for our New Year's Day dinner with friends. We bought the odd rubbery container at the Bird and Fish Market when we lived in Beijing in 1989 representing the past, the green shoots are for this moment in time, and there is hope for the small golden yellow "Baby Moon" daffodils to bloom soon. I ordered bulbs for forcing rather late from Old House Gardens and…
My maternal grandparents immigrated from Sweden when both were in their teens. They rarely talked about their life there but did mention that all they had to eat was potatoes. When he was 70 my grandfather planned his first trip back to visit to his sister, but returned early. He said his sister did not like to cook, so she fried up a batch of potato pancakes every Saturday and parceled them out over the course of the…