This is the season for sunflowers - and for a sunflower contest. The Recorder and the Greenfield Garden Club will hold their Annual Sunflower Contest on Saturday, August 21 at the Energy Park in Greenfield. There will be ribbons and prizes for the tallest, the largest blossom and the heaviest seedhead, as well as the most blossoms on a single plant AND the most beautiful arrangement. That arrangement must consist mostly of sunflowers. Entries will be accepted in…
This Garden Blogger's Retreat, designed by Michael Devine, is one of the sheds in the Living Stylishly in Nature: Re-Imagining the Humble Garden Shed special exhibit at the Berkshire Botanical Garden. in Stockbridge. Wouldn't you love to walk out your door and through your garden to this 'shed' to begin your post for the day? Can you tell that two thirds of the back wall is covered with tall mirrors? Swagged with handprinted fabric? However, I noticed that…
Garden phlox can be one of the stars of the summer garden. I bought this unnamed pink phlox paniculata at the Bridge of Flowers plant sale last year and it looks great this year. There is no sign of mildew, but I can't say whether that is because of the weather, or whether this is a mildew resistant variety. Many gardeners avoid phlox because of the mildew which is common, but mildew does not hurt the plant, and…
It seems like I have been celebrating my 70th birthday for weeks - what with visiting grandchildren and a big cake at the Family Reunion for all the Zero babies, but yesterday was my actual birthday, which I share with several friends, making it a joyous day indeed. All day long I collected email birthday wishes - a virtual birthday party - arranged by my friend Peter. He always has something up his sleeve! A delightful gift! Our…
Yesterday I spent the afternoon and evening preparing for, and enjoying a memorial for Elsa Bakalar, my friend, neighbor, colleague, and garden mentor who passed away in January at the age of 91. The flowers at the buffet supper in Jan and Cal's party barn were provided by The Passionate Gardeners, Mary, Susan and Eileen, gardeners who had come to learn from Elsa, and continued to help her in her garden- until that garden had to be given…
Potted hostas at Mike Shadrack The ‘long bus’ turned so sharply off the paved road and onto a dirt track that all 40 of us garden bloggers collectively held our breath. Fortunately our driver was a real pro and soon we were driving through the woods where Kathy and Michael Shadrack, hosta experts, awaited us. When the bus stopped Mike Shadrack leaped on to welcome us to his home and gardens. With a nod to Frank Lloyd…
We brought Anthony and Drew home with us from the Family Reunion. They've had a busy summer with a drive (geocaching!) from Texas to New York for a Lawn Family Reunion, visits with other relatives, a quick trip back to Texas for another trip to North Carolina with their Boy Scout troop for camp, and back for the Larson Reunion. After all that, we couldn't let them lie around enjoying Heath breezes. We went around the corner to…
Now that I have begun a Daylily Bank I have been paying more and more attention to the daylily family. Hyperion is a tall classic bright yellow daylily. Mine was given to me many years ago by my dear friend and mentor, Elsa Bakalar. Ice Capades, a pale icy yellow, joined Hyperion on my new Daylily Bank last summer. The Daylily Bank was my excuse for buying several new daylilies like Siloam Double Classic. This grows to about…
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Last fall I planted six lilies in the herb bed right in front of the house. Three Henryi lilies which are gold, and three white Henryi lilies, all from Old House Gardens, one of my favorite bulb suppliers. White Henryi was the first to blossom, dazzling white with its golden throat. Then this lily bloomed. I've got a bit of a prop to hold up the blossom so I could photograph it. It is neither the white or…