Month: March 2011
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Cocktails, Cooking, Maple Syrup, Recipes, The Seasons, Trees, Trees for Fall Foliage, Vermont, Woodland plants
Early Spring’s Sweetest Things…
The New Sugar Shack at Deer Ridge Farm in Guilford, Vermont Spring, oh spring, where are you? You certainly are a bit coquettish this year; teasing us with early catkins on willow, then snapping us with a sharp, cold sting. Yes, Spring has been withholding many early-season pleasures here in New England, but she always […]
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Holy Rasputitsa, What a Quagmire! Stylishly Rockin’ the Mud Season Ball…
“In New England we have nine months of winter, and three months of damned-poor sledding”.—-Old New England Proverb Welcome to Rasputitsa! Looks like this is the official start of mud season —Vermont style— and as they say: you ain’t seen nothin’ yet! I was introduced to the term ‘rasputitsa’ by a friend of mine —a world-class pruner […]
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Native North American Woodlands, Native Plants, Naturalistic Garden Design
Forever Violets: In Memory of Elizabeth
Viola labradorica Elizabeth Taylor Promotional Film Still â“’ Wallace Seawell / MGM Archive Viola labradorica In memory of a beautiful, talented, kind and generous woman; a glamorous inspiration to generations and one of my favorite movie stars of all time. Goodbye Elizabeth. Sleep softly for all eternity in a bed perfumed with ethereal violets; luminous […]
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Aerial Photography, Annual Flowers, annuals, Color in the Garden, Conservatory, Container Gardening, Environmental Art, Farm Events, New England, Perennials : Vermont, Plant Propagation, seed starting, Succulents, Succulents in Containers, Vermont
Fresh Starts & Colorful Patterns at Walker Farm in Dummerston,Vermont…
Like Farm Fields Viewed from Above, Flats of New Seedlings at Walker Farm Create Brilliant Geometric Abstractions Yesterday, I spent a few happy midday hours and an exciting lunchtime meeting with my friends Karen, Jack and Daisy at Walker Farm in Dummerston, Vermont. The 241-year-old farm has long been a popular and beloved local resource […]
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Conservatory, Exotic Plants, Flower Shows, New York Botanical Garden, orchids, Public Gardens, Rare Plants
A Special Offer on Orchid Evenings from The New York Botanical Garden…
The Gorgeous Display of Dazzling Divas at The Orchid Show: On Broadway – New York Botanical Garden – Photo â“’ The Al Hirschfeld Foundation via NY Botanical Garden Psst… Have you heard about The Orchid Show: On Broadway at New York Botanical Garden? Well, the show is already in full swing —dates are March 5 […]
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Bulbs, Color in the Garden, companion planting, Conservatory, Container Gardening, Fantasy Flowers, Glamorous Gardens, Green House Gardens, Indoor Gardening, Inspirational Gardens, Lyman Conservatory, Massachusetts, New England, Old Fashioned Flowers, Plant Spotlight, Smith College Botanical Garden, Spring Blooming Bulbs, Spring Flowering Bulbs, The Seasons, Vernal Equinox
A Warm Welcome to Spring: Blossoming Beauty at the Smith College Bulb Show…
Tulipa ‘Blue Spectacle’ Narcissus, tulips, hyacinth, freesia, iris and clivia; from the brash and bold to the delicate and ethereal, all of spring’s finest ladies were on display this week at Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts. The Bulb Show at Smith College’s Lyman Conservatory —where thousands of bulbs are carefully arranged and artfully displayed with flowering […]
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Celebrations, Citrus, Cocktails, Full Moon, Native Plants, Nature, New England, North American Trees, Recipes, Vermont, Vernal Equinox, Woodland plants, Woody Plants
Oh Sweet, Sweet, Sugar Moon: Celebrate The Vernal Equinox & Celestial Beauty With a Seasonal, Maple Syrup Cocktail…
The Sugar Moon: A Maple Syrup Cocktail to Celebrate the End of Winter & March’s Full Moon at Perigee With the full moon at perigee, Winter’s end and Spring’s beginning, it seems there’s plenty to celebrate this weekend. Last night —eager for a preview of tonight’s celestial events— I took a tour of the local Connecticut […]
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Farmer's Almanac, Moon, Native North American Woodlands, Nature, New England, The Seasons, Trees, Trees for Fall Foliage, Vermont, Vernal Equinox, Woodland plants, Woody Plants
Moonlight on Maple Buds…
Moonlight on Maple Buds Watching the moon rise through bare tree limbs last night, I couldn’t help but notice changes taking place in the forest all around me. By night, swollen maple buds stand out in soft silhouette against the sky’s moonlit glow. And by day, hillsides filled with reddish twigs color the landscape in […]
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Arnold Arboretum, Asian Natives, Autumn, Autumn Color in the Garden, Bee-Friendly Gardens, Color in the Garden, flowering shrubs, Flowering Trees, Hamamelis, Hardy shrubs, Massachusetts, Winter, Winter Garden, Winter Gardening, Witch hazel, Woodland plants, Woody Plants
Arnold’s Promise of Springtime…
Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Arnold’s Promise’ is stunning against the blue sky on a late winter day Though it’s a bit grey and dreary here today —melancholy low fog and freezing drizzle— the promise of spring is in the air. A sure sign? Sweetly scented Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Arnold’s Promise’. This gorgeous shrub literally lights up the […]
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Beneficial Animals and Insects, Bird Friendly Gardens, Birds
Nesting Plans…
Nest Photograph â“’ Â Tim Geiss at Poltergeiss Chirping, cawing, calling and singing; suddenly, the forest has come alive with the sound of migratory birds. Soon, it will be nesting time and you know what they say: the early bird catches the best real estate. OK, so maybe that’s not quite what they say, but Cornell […]
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Beneficial Animals and Insects, Berries, Bird Friendly Gardens, Birds, Foliage, Native North American Woodlands, Native Plants, Naturalistic Garden Design, Nature, New England, shrubs, Shrubs for fall color, Shrubs for ornamental fruit, Shrubs for Winter Interest, Shrubs with Textural Bark, Winter, Winter Garden, Winter Gardening, Woodland plants, Woody Plants
The Living Garden: Crow Feasting Upon Staghorn Sumac Berries…
Crows feasting upon native staghorn sumac berries (Rhus typhina) in my garden this morning… This morning while lingering over my breakfast, I heard some loud caw-caw-cawing coming from the edge of the back garden, and then noticed a pair of American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) enjoying an early meal of fruit from staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina). […]
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Annual Flowers, annuals, Bee-Friendly Gardens, Beneficial Animals and Insects, Butterflies and Moths, Caterpillars, companion planting, flowering shrubs, Native Plants
Butterflies on My Mind: Top Three Summer Blooming Plants for Attracting Fluttering Beauties to Your Garden…
Asclepias tubersosa (Butterflyweed) and Asclepias syriaca (Milkweed) are important sources of nectar for bees and butterflies. The leaves of Asclepias are also a source of food for monarch and other butterfly caterpillars. With my seminar, “Gardening to Attract Birds, Bees and Butterflies” coming up on Monday night —and last week’s visit to Magic Wings Butterfly […]
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Bee-Friendly Gardens, Beneficial Animals and Insects, Berries, Bird Friendly Gardens, Birds, Native Plants, Organic Disease Control, organic gardening, Organic Insect Control, Wildflowers and Meadows
Birds, Bees & Butterflies in the Garden: A Seminar on Attracting Winged Beauty! Brattleboro Garden Club in Vermont
I’ll be presenting a free gardening seminar with slide show & discussion: “Gardening to Attract Birds, Bees & Butterflies” Please note that the Brattleboro Garden Club has changed the time of this event to 6 pm. Thank you! This event is sponsored by the Brattleboro Garden Club and will take place Monday, March 14th at […]
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Four Season Garden Design Seminar: Springfield Garden Club in Vermont
I’m presenting a free Four Season Garden Design slide show & seminar, sponsored by the Springfield Vermont Garden Club, March 9th at 2pm. The event will take place at the Nolin-Murray Center, Pleasant Street, Springfield, Vermont. If you are gardening in Vermont, I hope to see you there! Thank you, Springfield VT and Springfield Garden […]
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Ferncliff, flowering shrubs, Flowering Shrubs and Trees for Forced Flowers, Forcing Branches in Winter, Fragrance, Hamamelis, Hardy shrubs, Native Plants, Naturalistic Garden Design, Nature, New England, North American Trees, Uncategorized, Winter Garden, Winter Gardening, Witch hazel, Woodland plants, Woody Plants
The Sweet Scent of Springtime: Bewitching Hamamelis Vernalis…
Sweetly Fragrant Hamamelis Vernalis: North American Native Vernal Witch Hazel, Cut from My Garden and Forced Inside Copper-Orange Tassels of Witch Hazel Glow in the Afternoon Light March, much like November, is a different month every year in New England. Some seasons, March skies are grey and late winter winds are cold; heavy snow falling […]
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Hydrangea, Ice Storms, Winter, Winter Garden, Winter Gardening, Woodland plants, Woody Plants
Leaving So Soon? I Wouldn’t Hear of It! Winter’s Latest, Icy Message…
Acer palmatum ‘Bloodgood’ (Red Leaf Japanese Maple) After the Storm With chilly fingers firmly gripping my hilltop, Winter made it clear last night that she’s nowhere near ready to go. And the entire forest —every last evergreen needle and bare twig— humbly bowed beneath the weight of her message. Oh Springtime, where are you now… […]
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Dried Flowers, Flower arrangements, Indoor Gardening, Indoor Table Arrangements
Everlasting Beauty: Displaying Dreamy, Delicate, Dried Narcissus…
As Pretty Dried & Arranged in a Bowl on the Vanity as Fresh in the Flower Pot: Various Dried Narcissus I’m the girl in back of the dining room; lingering with the last crumbs of her chocolate cake and bubbling prosecco. I like to draw my pleasure out; never leaving too soon. Of course, I feel […]
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Bee-Friendly Gardens, Butterflies and Moths, Extending the Growing Season, flowering shrubs, Garden Visits, Gardening Inspiration, Honeybee Friendly Gardening, Hummingbird/Butterfly, Inspirational Gardens, New England, organic gardening, Organic Insect Control, Summer flowering shrubs, Tropical Plants, Wind Breaks
On Magic Wings: A Visit to the Beautiful Butterfly Conservatory & Attracting Butterflies to Your Garden…
Postman (Heliconius melpomene) – Native to Central and South America Spring may be fast approaching, but yesterday’s cold and wintry temperatures left me craving a bit of warmth, moisture and color. I love visiting conservatories at this time of year, and fortunately, I live near several, wonderful gardens-beneath-glass. One of my favorite wintertime ‘vacation’ spots […]
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