Bloodroot, and double bloodroot, are plants  with reddish rhizomes that have an orange sap. The sap color is the genus name Sanguinaria from the Latin – sanguinarius which means ‘bloody.’  “The red juice from the underground stem was used by Native Americans as a dye for baskets, clothing, and war paint, as well as for insect repellent.” Others do use the sap medicinally, but I am not one of them! Actually, I don’t think this happens any more. (more…)

Epimediums are charming and look very delicate, but they are strong. This tiny epimedium, only 6 inches high, lives right by my front porch.  Other epimediums in my garden come in an array of colors and sizes. And there are other businesses that sell many more types of epimedium.  I am glad they like shade, and in my garden they get that shade, and some sun, over the course of the day. These plants can last for decades with minimal care. They are very little trouble. (more…)

Preparing to eat the wedding cake The Bull Run in Shirley gave us an evening for celebrating and sharing the traditional moment when Grandson Cieran and his Bride are about to share the wedding cake. This was a great moment. They wed three years ago, but that was a private moment; now that the pandemic is over they can share their love with family and friends. Cieran and Carissa - officially wed  We all cheered. You can see…

Earth Day has arrived! People around the world are thinking  about how to protect our Earth which is suffering in many ways. Trees are very important to  our health. Planting them, caring for  them, will clean the air, and cool our neighborhoods.  There are more reasons for planting trees,  but today I am thinking about the way Greening Greenfield is helping our town, our neighborhood, by planting trees. (more…)

Here Julia Child (Sarah Lancashire ) is preparing for her first TV cooking show. You can see Russ Morach, glaring, arms across his chest, watching an event that he is sure is going to bomb. He was wrong, and she persevered. This program got off to an ordinary start in 1963 and Julia was ready to teach people how  to cook! (more…)

The cover of Plant Grow Harvest Repeat (Timber Pres  $24.95) already tells us what we have in store. There is information about succession planting to plant, grow, and harvest vegetables and flowers. Meg McAndrews Cowden teaches us how to “Grow a Bounty of Vegetables, Fruits and Flowers by Mastering the Art of Succession Planting.” (more…)

I allowed all our blown leaves to cuddle with the hellebores I planted in bloom last spring. I appreciated the protection given by the leaves, but I was confused about how dried up the foliage was. (more…)

Sara-Evelyn Lane of Broadfork Permaculture came to prune my young Redbud tree, as well as giving us advice about other plants like my paniculata hydrangeas.  We started by spending time talking about the different Redbud branches, some very thin, and others larger – or maybe growing in an unfortunate direction. Sara-Evelyn has a good eye and was a good hand with sharp loppers. She told us that she always wipes down her tools with alcohol before she arrives  so that she isn’t bringing any bacteria to the customer’s garden. (more…)

As I opened the car door this morning I saw a golden crocus shining in the sun. I was amazed and delighted. I did not see any other crocus buds, but there were many green shoots making themselves aware. Now I can say spring has really sprung. (more…)

This golden Witch Hazel, otherwise known as Hamamelis virginiana, surprises me every year when a neighbor’s  shrub blooms in early March.  I don’t know whether it is one of the well-known varieties, Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Arnold’s Promise’ but it is about as tall as “Arnold’s Promise” grows. (more…)