Reading and Planning

  • Post published:02/28/2010
  • Post comments:4 Comments

I am still in the middle of reading and planning season. Two very different books have sent my imagination into high gear. Toad Cottages & Shooting Stars: Grandma’s Bag of Tricks by Sharon Lovejoy  ($14.95 Workman Publishing) is ostensibly for grandmas, but among the 130 activities described and illustrated with engaging photos and charming drawings, many will engage mommies and daddies as well. The opening chapter, Preparing Camp Granny, gives advice about welcoming a visiting grandchild so that…

My Flowery Mead

  • Post published:02/24/2010
  • Post comments:9 Comments

Now you know why I chose the name commonweeder. I love common weeds. Otherwise known as wild flowers. In some circles.  I call this wildflower garden my flowery mead. Others may call it my lawn. Lawns have become controversial because they can take a toll on the environment.  Herbicides and pesticides can runoff into streams and other waterways causing pollution and killing wildlife. Many people water their lawns when the weather is hot and dry, using that precious…

My Friend Elsa

  • Post published:02/13/2010
  • Post comments:3 Comments

Elsa Bakalar was my friend. This morning I got the call that I had been dreading. Elsa passed away peacefully on January 29. We moved to Heath in December of 1979, but I did not meet Elsa, who also lived in Heath until I began writing a weekly garden column, Between the Rows, for The Recorder. I had heard about Elsa and her garden and finally got up my courage to ask her for an interview. It must…

The Gardener’s Color Palette

  • Post published:02/12/2010
  • Post comments:7 Comments

Tom Fischer, Editor in Chief of Timber Press, has created a small, inexpensive book with more than 100 gorgeous photographs by Clive Nichols of 100 plants in the ranges of 10 colors - scarlet, orange, lime, blue, mahogany, and more! My garden, full of roses as it is, is heavy on pink, but when I look through this book I can't help imagining a color themed garden.  Lots of people have blue and white gardens, which are easy…

More Reading

  • Post published:02/04/2010
  • Post comments:0 Comments

This morning I was so excited while sending in my online rose order that I gave a shipping date of a month earlier than was wise. Now I have to call them and explain that my desire to get these new roses in the ground overwhelmed me, but I finally realized I have to bow to the realities of our Heath climate. Having put off planting dates, I satisfied myself by settling back to finish two excellent but…

What Will I Do?

  • Post published:01/04/2010
  • Post comments:2 Comments

My view to the northwest is of an unblemished snowfield. The snow is clean and bright, the sky a brilliant blue. The landscape is as untouched as the new year.. What will I do with 2010? How will I approach my landscape? Recently a friend of mine said he was gearing himself up to buy a tiller for his tractor, usually used for work in the woods and plowing snow. His wife chimed in that he was tired…

New Year’s Day 2010

  • Post published:01/01/2010
  • Post comments:5 Comments

Red Brocade by Naomi Shihab Nye The Arabs used to say, When a stranger appears at your door, feed him for three days before asking who he is, where he’s come from, where he’s headed. That way, he’ll have strength enough to answer. Or, by then you’ll be such good friends you don’t care. Lets to back to that. Rice? Pine nuts? Here, take the red brocade pillow. My child will serve water to your horse. No, I…

Books for the Gardener

  • Post published:12/28/2009
  • Post comments:0 Comments

Just about everyone knows that I am a reader. Therefore there is nothing (well, almost nothing) I like better as a gift than a book.  When I had regular paid employment I always prayed that the day after Christmas would be on a weekend so I could devote that day to reading my Christmas book. And I’ll confess, I often bought myself  a book – for just in case, but I never needed to worry. Here are some…

Our Final Winner!

  • Post published:12/12/2009
  • Post comments:5 Comments

Nan of Letters from a Hill Farm, up there in Maine, is the winner of Right Rose Right Place and 2 dozen CowPots.  Nan is a voracious reader as well as enthusiastic gardener so I know both will be put to good use.  Congratulations Nan. Happy reading and planting. Thank you all who have visited and helped me celebrate my second anniversary as a blogger.  These two years have brought me gifts I could never have imagined, so…

Last Chance

  • Post published:12/11/2009
  • Post comments:6 Comments

It's not yet 9 am and the temperature is slowly climbing. It was 10 degrees when we got up, but now it is almost 15 degrees with still gusting winds. Still it is beautiful outside. The sun is shining and I love admiring the beauty of the landscape. From inside. Close to the fire. You don't need to go outside to take this last chance to enter my drawing for Right Rose Right Place by Peter Schneider and…