Recent Posts
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Nibbling Lemon Tart as the Snow Falls
Meyer Lemon Tart What is it about late-winter snow storms that inspires me to bake? Perhaps it’s the warm oven and comforting aromas, or maybe it’s post-snow-shovel sugar cravings? Either way, this has always been the case for me. Of course, baking during a blizzard —when the threat of a power outage looms large— is […]
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Bulb companions, Bulbs, Color in the Garden, companion planting, Conservatory, Early spring flowering plants, Early Spring Garden Plants, Flower arrangements, Flower Shows, flowering shrubs, Forcing Branches in Winter, Fragrance, Garden Design, Garden Design Photos, Gardening Inspiration, Glamorous Gardens, Green House Gardens, House Plants, Indoor Eden, Indoor Gardening, Indoor Table Arrangements, Inspirational Gardens, Lyman Conservatory, MA, Massachusetts, Smith College Botanical Garden, Spring Blooming Bulbs, Spring Flowering Bulbs, Springtime
Narcissus, Tulipa & Fragrant Hyacinth: Smith Botanic Garden’s 2018 Bulb Show
Tulipa, Narcissus & Sweetly Fragrant Hyacinth at Lyman Conservatory It’s 3:30 p.m. and snow is falling steadily here in Southern Vermont. The forecast is calling for 5-8Â inches overnight. These late winter storms can really give a gardener the blues, but I knew this nor’easter was coming, so I prepared. Bread and milk? Oh, no, […]
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Bird Friendly Gardens, Birds, Birds in the Garden
Who, Who, Who? Who Cooks for You? The Beautiful Barred Owl, Of Course!
Barred Owl (Strix varia), Surveys the Garden from a Fence Post If you’ve spent time in the woods at dusk or dawn —or gone camping anywhere along the east coast— chances are you have heard a Barred Owl, even if you’ve never seen one. This beautiful raptor’s call, “Who cooks for you, who, who, who“, often […]
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Early spring flowering plants, flowering shrubs, Garden Design, Hamamelis, Native North American Woodlands, Native Plants, Naturalistic Garden Design, Nature, New England, Shrubs for early spring blossoms, Shrubs for fall color, Shrubs for Winter Interest, Witch hazel, Woodland plants, Woody Plants
Forward March: Signs of a New Season
Vernal Witch Hazel (Hamamelis vernalis) greets the sun Although it’s a mostly-winter month —and oh how I dread the lion’s roar!— March is filled with the promise of springtime. Witch Hazel, Pussy Willow, Spring Heath, Snowdrops, Crocus: everywhere I look, the signs appear! And so I venture forth, into the garden, calling out the lamb. […]
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Art Inspired by Nature, Artful Garden Objects, Asian Natives, Bonsai, Books, Decorating Ideas, Dish Gardens, Environmental Art, Ferns, Garden projects for kids, Gardening Inspirations, Gifts for Gardeners, Ground Covers, Hanging Baskets, Home, House Plants, Indoor Eden, Indoor Gardening, Indoor Table Arrangements, Japanese-inspired Gardens, Kokedama, Moss, Planting Techniques, Plants for shade, Plants for Texture, Terrariums
Create a Verdant Indoor Eden with Miniature Moss Gardens: Book Review
Miniature Moss Gardens: Create Your Own Japanese Container Gardens These last few weeks of winter can be the longest and gloomiest of the season. Just when the witch hazel begins to bloom, five inches of snow will fall and smother her glorious, golden petals. Late February and early March is my favorite time of the […]
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Frost, Winter Garden, Winter Garden Design
A Garden Made for Winter
A Winter Wonderland, Just Outside My Studio Door Winter in New England can be long, dark, cold and dreary, to be certain. But if you are a lover of magical, frozen landscapes, beauty also abounds. By mid-February, I often find myself feeling a bit house-bound and restless. The cure for cabin fever? Why a garden […]
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Welcome Back, Purple Finch
Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus), Lights Upon Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius) The Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus, pictured above), with its raspberry-stained plumage and sweet, warbling song, is an occasional guest at my bird feeders during the winter months. With color scarce at this time of year, I am grateful for the brilliant-colored beauty and musical backdrop provided by this […]
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Freezing, Frost, Nature, New England, Photography, Valentines Day Flowers
Cold Hands, Warm Heart
H A P P YÂ Â Â V A L E N T I N E SÂ Â Â D A Y . Article copyright Michaela at The Gardener’s Eden, all rights reserved. All content on this site, (with noted exceptions), is the property of The Gardener’s Eden and may not be used, reproduced or reposted elsewhere […]
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Cocktails, Cooking, Gourmet Garden, Herb Gardening, Recipes, Roses, Valentines Day Flowers
The Vintage Rose: A Valentine’s Cocktail
The Vintage Rose Cocktail: Perfect for Valentine’s Day (or any day!) Valentine’s Day is coming up, and with Rosalind Creasy’s The Edible Flower Garden still on my mind, how could I resist sharing a romantic rose-cocktail made with real rose petals and homemade rose syrup? Long time readers may recall this recipe from nearly a decade […]
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Annual Flowers, annuals, Baking, Color in the Garden, Cookbooks, Cooking, Cooking with Kids, Decorating the Garden, Garden Design, Gourmet Garden, Herb Gardening, Pollinating Insects, Recipes, Vegetable Gardening, Vegetable Gardening/Potager
Designing Spring’s Prettiest Potager & Rosalind Creasy’s ‘Edible Flower Garden’
Rosalind Creasy’s The Edible Flower Garden When you begin plotting out your spring vegetable garden, do you include space for edible flowers in your planting plan? Wait, did I just say edible flowers? Indeed I did. Gourmet gardeners will already be familiar with the delicious flavor of stuffed squash blossoms and the zing of spicy […]
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A Winter Wander
A bit of golden sunlight through the trees. Traces of warmth in this cold, dark season. Follow my blog with Bloglovin Photography copyright Michaela Harlow at The Gardener’s Eden, all rights reserved. All content on this site, (with noted exceptions), is the property of The Gardener’s Eden and may not be used, reproduced or reposted […]
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Cookbooks, Cooking, Freezing, Garlic, Gourmet Garden, Herb Gardening, Potager
Spicy & Savory Winter Squash Stew
Winter Squash Stew from The Edible Herb Garden After posting my recent review of Rosalind Creasy’s The Edible Herb Garden last week, I decided that I simply had to try one of the many tempting recipes at the back of the book. Cooking with fresh herbs and homegrown vegetables is a bit more challenging at […]
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Books, Container Gardening, Cookbooks, Cooking, Garden Design, Garden Design Photos, Gardening Inspiration, Gardening without Lawn, Herb Gardening
Spring Planning with Rosalind Creasy’s ‘The Edible Herb Garden’
The Edible Herb Garden, Rosalind Creasy It’s late January. The ground is frozen, the hills are grey-brown and the garden is covered in ice. Convincing clients that now is the best time to create a landscape design for spring planting has never been easy. But it’s smart to begin now —when the snow is piled […]
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A New Year’s Wish
Welcome 2018 Wishing you joy & happiness in the New Year! Frosty Morning … Article & Photography copyright Michaela Harlow at The Gardener’s Eden, all rights reserved. All content on this site, (with noted exceptions), is the property of The Gardener’s Eden and may not be used, reproduced or reposted elsewhere without written consent. Do […]
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Winter, Winter Garden, Winter Garden Design, Winter Gardening, Winter Solstice
Solstice Season in the Secret Garden
Solstice Season in the Secret Garden  First snow. Powder swirls about the Secret Garden, dusting peaks, tracing lines and filling every crevice. The forest, enchanted, drifts softly off to sleep . . . Winter bares her beautiful bones Article & Photography copyright Michaela Harlow at The Gardener’s Eden, all rights reserved. All content on this […]
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Calamondin Orange Tree, Citrus, Cooking, Indoor Eden, Indoor Gardening, Trees
Calamondin Orange: Sunshine in a Pot
Calamondin Orange Tree in the Kitchen As we move closer to the shortest day of the year, and the long, dark nights of winter, sunlight begins to feel like a rare and precious commodity. During the cold, colorless months, I find myself seeking out warm hues —bright yellow, orange, lime green— and all things tropical. […]
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Citrus, Cocktails, Herb Gardening, Recipes
Cranberry-Basil Margarita with Homegrown Citrus & Herbs
Cranberry-Basil Margarita Tis the season for entertaining, and for many of us, that means welcoming guests with refreshing, festive cocktails. At the moment, I’m planning a Winter Solstice get-together for family. This will be more of a roam-about the room and chat party than a sit-down dinner, so I’m dreaming up tasty libations to set […]
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Books, Garden Art, Garden Design, Garden Design Photos, Japanese-inspired Gardens, Stone Sculpture, stonework
Visionary Landscapes: Japanese Garden Design in North America
The calming nature of Zen gardens and the allure of Japanese-style has been enchanting and seducing landscape designers and gardeners throughout the wider world for well over 150 years. Stepping into a Japanese-inspired courtyard is the perfect antidote to a day spent in crowded subways, noisy streets and stressful work environments. We crave quiet and […]
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Late Autumn Hues in the Garden
Late Autumn Hues in the November Garden December may have arrived, but as usual, I’m not quite ready to let go of autumn. Apparently, I’m also not quite ready to let go of blogging. Hello, friends. It’s been a long while. Outside in my garden, it’s a world filled with rust-gold remnants and brilliant-colored berries. […]
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Welcome Spring
 Crocus Unfolds a New Season Welcome Spring Equinox! Photography & Text â“’  Michaela Medina Harlow/The Gardener’s Eden. All photographs, artwork, articles and content on this site (with noted exceptions), are the original, copyrighted property of Michaela Medina Harlow and/or The Gardener’s Eden and may not be reposted, reproduced or used in any way without prior […]
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Mid-March Awakenings
 Sunlit Raindrops Dangle from Acer palmatum x dissectum ‘Seiryu’ The switch to Daylight Saving Time always rattles my schedule. I’m a morning person so I’ve just lost an hour in the early part of my day. This week, I feel like I’m constantly falling behind, but I know it’s only temporary. Soon the horizon will […]
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