Dec 21, 2008 | Life's Gardens, my gardens
In a recent email from Wayne Winterrowd he commented on a visit to our property shortly after we moved in: “I LOVED the fact that you were putting your vegetable garden in the front lawn!” When Wayne visited, the slope between the front of the house and the road had...
Dec 5, 2008 | my gardens, plants I love
I love the old fashioned, cottage garden plant commonly called Sweet William. Diantus barbatus is easy to grow from seed and although in some places it’s called a perennial, you’re better off thinking of this as a biennial. This plant grows one year,...
Dec 1, 2008 | Garden Celebrations, Garden Prayer, growing the spirit, Life's Gardens, my gardens
Last week on the radio I referred to my property as “Poison Ivy Acres”, as I have on this blog and my website many times. Later that day I ran into one of my listeners and he said, “Poison Ivy Acres? Why that name? Aren’t there more beautiful...
Nov 27, 2008 | growing the spirit, Life's Gardens, my gardens, products I love
It is Thanksgiving morning and as I drink my coffee I watch the birds crowd into the feeder. Cardinals, morning doves and a titmouse take turns with the blue jays. We have lots of blue jays. Just below the birdfeeder, four crows walk up the grass path from the lake,...
Nov 22, 2008 | growing the spirit, Life's Gardens, my gardens
“Can I fold your laundry?” my mother-in-law asks. “That would be wonderful,” I reply. It’s nice not to have to do this routine chore myself, and I realize that it gives her a purpose and helps her to feel needed. My mother-in-law has recently moved in with us and we...
Nov 14, 2008 | my gardens, plants I love
The I Love This Plant for this week is Pyrus salicifolia ‘Pendula‘ or weeping willow-leaf pear. I first saw this plant some years ago at the Chicago Botanic Garden and I stood looking at it, thinking, “I want one”. Four years ago I ordered this weeping willow-leaf...
