I have a little planter that fits around the umbrella pole on my patio table. It consists of six pie-shaped wedges. In the spring, as soon as I've set up the table, I plant this planter with... …
Verbena: One Flower, Many Stories
I have a little stand of Verbena bonariensis 'Vanity' growing in the flower bed I made around my mailbox last fall. There are a lot of directions I could take this story. For starters, I could …
A Rose, A Thorn, and A Bud
Many people and groups use the concept of a rose, a thorn, and a bud to describe emotions, projects, life in general or as an icebreaker in a large group. Without simplifying it too much, the rose …
Purslane
I had to laugh when I received a sample of a new ornamental purslane earlier this spring from PanAmerican Seed. This is Portulaca oleracea 'Toucan Fuchsia', not to be confused with …
Hubris
My hubris, my over-confidence, is on full display in the garden, taking the form—this time—of a large trumpet lily knocked over by the wind and rain. Deep down, of course I knew the lilies were at …
Those 11 Cents Packets of Seeds
Are those cheap packets of seeds you sometimes see for sale in the spring worth it? I spent 22 cents for two packets of stock (Matthiola incana) seeds, variety 'Ten Week', and sowed them later than …
