Several years ago, maybe a dozen or so, I had to go to Boston to attend a work-related conference. I remember we had some additional time on Sunday, the day before the conference started, and so I found myself browsing in a local bookstore. When I could not find the gardening book section (isn’t that where you go first in a bookstore?), I asked someone to direct me to it.I will never forget the reply. “We don’t have a gardening book section because people around here don’t do much gardening.”I … [Read more...] about Fall Foliage Report Boston and Indy
shrubs
Sweetspire Song and Dance
I like plants in the garden that do more than one thing. You know, like sing and dance. This is a picture of the Sweetspire today, all fall-y and reddish and one of the first shrubs or trees to really show fall leaf color. And here it was in the spring, blooming in early mid June. It waited until a lot of the other showier shrubs like lilac and forsythia were done before it bloomed. It's not going to cause someone to slam on the brakes while driving by but does provide a nice bloom for a few … [Read more...] about Sweetspire Song and Dance
The Sound of Water and A Secret Garden
"They", whoever they are, say that no garden is complete without a water feature or the sound of water.On my front porch, I have the sound of water coming from this little fountain, which I purchased and installed earlier this spring. I have indeed enjoyed the bubbling sound of the water as I sit on the front porch in the evenings. From the front porch I look out into this little planted area, which right now looks like a bit of a mess. It is a little triangular garden space with a brick wall on … [Read more...] about The Sound of Water and A Secret Garden
Bagworms & Shrubby St. John’s Wort
With an online garden blog, I can easily portray an image of my garden that is like paradise. Pretty flowers, green grass, interesting insects, serene sunsets, soft rains, and more vegetables than can be eaten in a season. But real gardeners aren't fooled. So I also include glimpses of the opposite of paradise by sharing information about topics like invasive plants, stinging wasps, corn diseases, and ravenous rabbits. Earlier this summer on my companion picture blog, I posted pictures of some … [Read more...] about Bagworms & Shrubby St. John’s Wort
Blue Fruit and Blog Stuff
This is some blue fruit (berries) on one of my viburnums, Viburnum dentatum "Chicago Lustre". I don't think people plant enough viburnums and other large shrubs in the landscape. At least I don't see that many large shrubs in my neighborhood. I think that is just wrong.These large shrubs are providing food for birds and shelter as well. Plus, they flower in the spring and the foliage is very nice. Not to mention, they hide what is behind them, which in my case is a privacy fence in my garden. … [Read more...] about Blue Fruit and Blog Stuff
Lilacs
I get a lot of questions about lilacs as soon as they start to bloom in the spring. There must be something about the flowers and the scent of the flowers that people really like. Around here, I generally only see three types of lilacs; common lilac, Miss Kim lilac and Meyer lilac.The common lilac (Syringa vulgaris) is an old-fashioned shrub, and the first of the lilacs to bloom in the spring. It gets rather large and gangling, and isn't a shrub I would put as a focal point in the landscape. I … [Read more...] about Lilacs
