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…

I am aware that  our world needs the plants and insects that have been obliterated because of the lack of plants that will feed them. That is why I, and many other gardeners, are choosing pollinator plants for their gardens. I planted a sunny bed of the brilliant Aesclepias tuberose, butterfly weed, in my garden  because I want to attract butterflies, especially Monarch butterflies which need the pollen and nectar. The female Monarchs lay their eggs on the…

I am not a member of the Soil Science Society of America, but I want to pass along the kinds of information it gives that can be of interest and help to all of us in our gardens. February 1, 2021 – Plant roots modify soil in different ways – depending on the root’s architecture. This Soil Science Society of America’s (SSSA) February 1st Soils Matter Blog explores plant roots and how plants modify soil in substantive ways. Blogger Jake…

 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…