Landscapes of Exile and Belonging in American Literature February 3 — 2:00–3:00pm Instructor/Presenter: Michael Hoberman When William Bradford, the first governor of Plimouth Plantation, described the Pilgrims’ first glimpse of Cape Cod, the new landscapes that emphasized the bewilderment they felt at its “wild and savage hue.” Nearly three hundred years later, another Massachusetts writer, W.E.B. DuBois, spoke of  the landscapes and speaking of having “been born by a golden river and in the shadow of two great…

Crocuses are the earliest plants to  bloom in my garden. Several clumps of crocuses bloom under our Lilac Tree, where passers-by can enjoy the spring sight. On this day when the sun is shining  so brilliantly, I can almost feel the bulbs waking up underground. This photo was taken March 25, 2020. There were other crocuses scattered around this bit  of grass under the Lilac Tree. The Lilac Tree cannot be confused with the lilac bushes that are…

During snowy January winters (and it is snowing as I write) I start to get itchy, longing to see flowers the garden. That is impossible of course, but what I can do is think about I can plant that will bloom very early in the spring. Witch hazel (Hamamelis) is a shrub that blooms when there is no other flower in sight. It immediately comes to mind because a neighbor has a witch hazel growing and blooming in…

Every house deserves a spot where the residents can sit by a window that will give them a beautiful garden view in every season. Do I live in a house that provides me with a window and comfortable chair where I can admire my garden through the seasons? No.  In fact there are only two windows that give a good garden view. When we moved into our house five years ago, the first thing I required was a…

I don't expect much Bloom Day color in January when I take a photo from the window, but this time my plans were a total failure. You an see the dried hydrangea blossoms in back  of the roses which have amazingly kept a lot of dried foliage, but this does not count and blooms. Obviously, you'll say. You don't expect blossoms in the snow! Last fall I started pulling these green strands up, thinking they were weeds. Not…

“Ever since I officially retired from Mohawk Regional High School, I’ve just exploded with new ideas,” Beverly Duncan said as she gave me a tour of her studio in Ashfield. One wall was covered with framed botanical paintings that she had done in the past. Other paintings-in-progress were pinned to a bulletin board; other smaller paintings of flower blossoms were pinned to a different bulletin board. Surrounded by these works, finished and unfinished, she told me about recent…

On these pandemic days we have been trying to take walks around the neighborhood and have noticed a lot of rhododendrons in front gardens. I also have a small rhododendron in from of my house, a part of the low growing conifers that make up the grass-less front yard. We also have two rhodies growing on the Hugel in the back yard. They are not doing well because the hugel, which is made of piles of logs as …

The new year has begun with new opportunities, new hopes, new ideas, and new projects for our gardens.  The vegetable garden we planned during the pandemic is very tiny. Very very tiny. I planted beans, peas, lettuce, radishes, zucchini, beets and chard. Too many varieties. This was a mistake. I have to rethink the best way to get a usable harvest in a tiny garden. The beans and the peas worked well, but I did learn that putting…