I can sympathize with Fran’s feelings about the use and abuse of chrysanthemums (see “The Pushiness of Chrysanthemums“), but I must confess that I’ve done my fair share of September shopping for fall-garden fillers. Mums? Check. Pansies? Yep. Ornamental cabbage and kale? Oh, yes—gloriously yes. I know, I know: They’re big and frilly and gaudy,[...]
I tend to be a bit peevish about certain plants in the garden. But I’ve got to tell you that the sight of chrysanthemums dotting the front yards of a lot of homes in my area to be distasteful: a bit like eating too many lollipops or cotton candy at an amusement park and ending[...]
What a frustration it is to be a professional garden photographer that must make the vain attempt to find gardens at their “peak”. I am working on a meadow book and visited Nan’s garden this summer. (Ondra meadow July 28, 2007) Surely her meadow garden is as lovely now as then. A strong argument can[...]
While working on my most recent book, Fallscaping, I developed a particular interest in finding perennials with great autumn foliage color. Before that, I could name only a half-dozen or so; now, it seems they’re everywhere I look. At left above are some sunny yellow stalks of common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), showing off beautifully against[...]
Do you ever have one of those gardening moments when you wonder “Why do I bother?” I get them often when I spend time walking through my meadow, especially at this time of year. Everywhere I look, there are beautiful vistas, stunning combinations, and exquisite tiny details that make the time and energy I invest[...]