It is always nice  to have a little herb garden by the kitchen door, but I had never thought about caring for Herbal Houseplants  ($24.99 Cool Springs Press) that  would work in the kitchen - and in the living room. Susan Betz has given us a handsome little  book that opens new worlds of the herbs that  will grow indoors, and that will also show us how  to use fragrant herbs like patchouli and lavender, or just have…

Rose season has begun and  the energetic Thomas Affleck rose has begun his very long season of bloom. I can usually count on Thomas Affleck to offer me flowers into September. What strength and beauty he has.  I  will say that my Thomas is at least five feet tall. The Oso Easy 'Paprika' rose is one of the strong, long blooming roses. It is only about two feet  high with months of  bloom. The shades of 'Paprika' shift…

Angela S. Judd has just given me - and you - the great gift of useful information about How to Grow  Your Own Food in an Illustrated Beginner's Guide to Container Gardening. (Adams media $20.) This bright and colorful book begins with basic information about growing food in containers, the principles and benefits for success. Most of us will know that it is important to consider the amount of adequate light and temperature plants need. Information about the…

On this Bloom Day I wanted to give you an idea of the garden, with its spring blooms. I have a clump of small blue irises (don't ask me which type) The beautiful 'Goldheart' bleeding heart, a peek at the last of the grape hyacinths on  the other side of the bed,  the low growing bistort next to the fothergilla and the blue of an energetic creeping phlox groundcover. Epimediums are wonderful plants. I have several epimediums that…

Mother's Day arrives and daughters and sons often choose flowers as a gift. You can buy roses and other beautiful flowers at the florist. Or, we gardeners could walk through our spring gardeners and choose bright and sunny flowers and make a unique bouquet. The wood poppy is also known as the celandine poppy that will bloom now and into June. The 18 inch plant will be covered with sunny golden blossoms and will be sure to to…

Phenology is the science dealing with the relationship between climate and the recurrent natural events in relation to seasonal climatic changes. That may sound difficult to understand, but those who watch for the arrival of migrating birds, or the opening of flower buds are studying phenology. Centuries ago the Chinese did not know about the science of phenolgy but they did understand that spring was recognized by plants before the farmers did. Eventually farmers around the world learned…

The Vegetable Garden Pest Handbook by Susan Mulvihill (Cool Springs Press $26.99) is a book that will be useful to experienced as well as beginners in the garden. First there is information about the whys and hows of organic gardening. The brief beginning reminds us that that it is vital to pay attention to the needs of the soil including the needed organic fertilizers for healthy growth of your plants. The dangers of herbicides and insecticides are clearly…

With The First Time Gardener: Growing Plants and Flowers by Sean and Allison McManus ($29.99 Cool Springs Press) new or new-ish gardeners will find lots of information about working in the garden. During this long pandemic year many of us have taken another look at our back yards and our gardens. So much of our chores around town, and pleasures with our friends have been put aside during these long, sometimes lonely months. Starting a garden or taking…

Husband working in the new Stroll Garden - Native trees and plants for bees, birds, butterflies (July photo) Earth Day, an event born in 1970, is a day that encourages us to take stock of the way we live. This year the Earth Day organizers  have named the theme Restore Our Earth.  "Workshops, panel discussions, and special performances will all focus on Restore Our Earth™ — we’ll cover natural processes, emerging green technologies, and innovative thinking that can…

Garden Blogger's Bloom Day is finally showing off some of the early spring bloomers. Grape hyacinths are such vigorous plants that I have divided them and moved some to the other side of the garden, and given a couple of clumps to friends. They are amazing plants, with foliage that waits for the flowers all winter long. I bought about 100 Mary Gay Lirette daffodils last fall. My intention was to create a river of the same daffodils…