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…

The sycamore on the right, is in front of my  house, and the other younger sycamore is right across the street. They seem to be in a constant embrace. The Sycamore is also known as American plane tree, western plane, occidental plane, and buttonball. Whenever we give friends directions to our house we just direct them to the biggest tree in  the middle of the block. I did not know very much about sycamores until we moved to…

Peter E. Kukielski has been growing and working with roses for many years. I first met him when he was the curator of the New York Botanical Garden Peggy Rockefeller Rose Garden 12 years ago. He gave me the full tour and told me about all the other roses that were scheduled to be added. I asked him how the garden could possibly hold any more roses. The garden was so full and so beautiful. He leaned towards…

Fashion in Art: Mirrors of Humanity Tuesday, February 23— 2:00–3:00pm Fashion, considered by some to be frivolous, elite, and/or inaccessible, in fact mirrors the complexities of who we are.  Edward Maeder’s insights capture how we perceive what we wear and why through artworks that record idiosyncratic, personal, and socio-political structures.  “Maeder’s book celebrates the extraordinary nature of ordinary lives, and the power of clothing to bring history to life” (Hamish Bowles, International Editor, Vogue). Edward Maeder, from Black…

Annuals play an important part in the garden. They bloom for a long season, and can cover the ground or reach high like the morning glories that cover the garden fence. Morning glories come in all manner of colors from the familiar Heavenly Blue to my favorite, Grandpa Ott with its deep blue and rich winey center. Zinnias come  is all colors, all sizes and all shapes.  They also attract bees. All  of us are paying more attention…

The backyard garden is full of snow and ice, but great balls o' fire  --- days awaistin'. I already have friends who say the seeds they ordered were told it was too late. It's no fun to see a page of a seed catalog and learn that half the seeds are no longer available. Last year, on March 22 I attended the Cabin Fever Seed Swap. Gardeners gathered to share their seeds, extra bought seeds and seeds from…