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The Primrose Path
Several years ago a nearby discount grocer ran a special on primroses. They were blooming little beauties. Knowing they wouldn’t last...
Ann Bartlett
Apr 6, 20192 min read
March Tidbit
While I love flowers, deadheading is not my favorite summer pastime. In areas viewed by passersby, I try to use self-cleaning or very...
Robin Ford Wallace
Mar 30, 20191 min read
Say It with Flowers
Around 1850, England abolished its tax on glass. This allowed economical construction of large greenhouses in which the exotic, tender...
Ann Bartlett
Mar 23, 20193 min read
The Blooming Of The Green
Tomorrow most everyone will be sporting green in recognition of the Emerald Isle and its special holiday. I want to celebrate the...
Ann Bartlett
Mar 16, 20192 min read
Crop Rotation
As home vegetable gardeners gear up for a fresh start on this year’s crops, it is best to make a rather detailed plan. Planning what and...
Ann Bartlett
Mar 9, 20192 min read
March Madness
One of my California cousins follows this column. She told me that she loves a to-do list of garden tasks. I rarely make that the subject...
Ann Barton
Mar 2, 20192 min read
Cluster Bloomers
Victorian gardeners defined a new landscaping aesthetic for their middle-income, newly-developed neighborhoods. They used plant materials...
Ann Bartlett
Feb 23, 20192 min read
Perils and Progress of the Patiently Persistent Planter
Those of you who have not developed a perennial border may think that it is much easier than a garden of annuals. Granted, we perennial...
Ann Bartlett
Feb 16, 20192 min read
Spice Up the New Year
Last Tuesday, February 5, was the first day of the Lunar New Year. This holiday is a moveable feast beginning with the second new moon...
Ann Bartlett
Feb 9, 20192 min read
Hedgehog Day: Groundhog Day's German Great-Uncle
Have you ever wondered who dreamed up Groundhog Day? What can be so special about February 2? In 1887, “Groundhog Day” started as a...
Robin Ford Wallace
Feb 2, 20192 min read
Annuals: Summer Romance Adds Spice to LTR With Perennials
There was a time when I tried to eliminate annuals from my garden. The challenge of creating a continuously-blooming perennial border was...
Robin Ford Wallace
Jan 26, 20192 min read
The Expanding Universe of No-Spray Roses
Gardeners who may want to grow roses but view them as too much work will be glad to know that throughout the rose industry efforts are...
Robin Ford Wallace
Jan 19, 20192 min read
Brighten Midwinter Days
“Nature gives each season some beauty of its own,” wrote Charles Dickens. Though I enjoy seeing the underlying structure of the leafless...
Robin Ford Wallace
Jan 12, 20192 min read
Jolly Holly
As the holiday season draws to a close, it is the perfect time to consider holly. Not only is it the plant that gives Christmas its red...
Robin Ford Wallace
Jan 6, 20193 min read
Where Can a Gardener Find Answers?
As we prepare to greet the New Year, I want to offer some advice on finding reliable information about gardening. Like me, you probably...
Robin Ford Wallace
Dec 29, 20182 min read
Gifts of the Magi
The gospel of Matthew tells the story of wise men from the East who follow the Star of Bethlehem to find Baby Jesus and give him gifts of...
Robin Ford Wallace
Dec 22, 20182 min read
The Christmasy Conifer
It’s that special time of year when we make space for the Christmas tree, the centerpiece of many family holiday traditions. Whether you...
Robin Ford Wallace
Dec 15, 20182 min read
Happy Holidays With Poinsettias
Today no flower says Christmas more than the poinsettia. This Mexican wildflower is the perfect color echo of holiday holly and its red...
Robin Ford Wallace
Dec 8, 20182 min read
Black Gold for Southern Farmers: How's About A Crop of Truffles?
Say “truffle” and I think of a very delicious little chocolate candy. But really these candies are named for their resemblance to black...
Robin Ford Wallace
Dec 1, 20183 min read
Feed the Birds
If you want to create a winter haven for birds, it must include a feeding program, a water source and some provision for shelter. The...
Robin Ford Wallace
Nov 24, 20182 min read
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