Last week I heard a local horticulturist tell an audience that the only gardening task that could be accomplished in January is planning. No actual gardening. Which surprised me because I’ve been gardening daily all fall and winter except for just two weeks when the ground was frozen, and temps have otherwise been pretty mild. [...]
Posted by Susan Harris on January 31, 2013 at 5:59 pm. This post has 39 responses.
Body: Posted by Bert CreggLast week I posted about some horticultural disasters I witnessed in the Czech Republic. This week the chamber of horrors. […]
Biodiverse Lawn by Coalition Member Thomas Christopher Like other members of this group, I believe that the contemporary model of lawn has got to go.. […]
Body: Posted by Linda Chalker-Scott If you've been following us for a while, you might remember a post from August 2009 when I got cranky about a pot. […]
Last week I posted garden designer Susan Morrison’s lovely hand-drawn plans of my cocktail garden, which she designed in response to my desperate plea for help. You can see the final results in the February issue of Sunset magazine, but maybe you’d like to see where we started. Because...
Read more in: Designs, Tricks, and Schemes, Drink This, Garden Rant Cocktail Hour, Real Gardens
As a gardener who has suffered under the shade and roots of three (3) Norway maples planted inextricably in the easeway fronting my house, I can sympathize with those who are distressed about a Norway maple leaf being enshrined forever on the new Canadian currency. It was supposed to...
Read more in: Ministry of Controversy
It’s time, people! The 2013 Garden Bloggers Fling is happening in San Francisco on June 28-30, and registration is open now. They would really, really, really like you to register by February 1 so they can get going on a head count and make some plans (but you can...
Read more in: Unusually Clever People
Margaret Roach’s blog tour for her new book “Backyard Parables” has been going strong for two weeks, and I’m kinda late to the party. But like any opinionated gardenblogger, I have things to say. At first I was confused by the title but soon learned that this book is...
Read more in: Books, Unusually Clever People
Guest Rant by Billy Goodnick Come with me to the imaginary hearing called by the Senate Subcommittee on Crimes Against Horticulture. The hallowed chamber shudders as my gavel slams down, calling the room to order. I delight as the company reps and industry lobbyists squirm in dread anticipation of...
Read more in: CRRRITIC, Guest Rants
So! Sunset magazine stopped by a few months ago. It was great fun hanging out with a couple of pros all day and watching them work. (Oh, and there was some mixing of cocktails, too.) Anyway, you can see the results in the February issue of Sunset, which is...
Read more in: Designs, Tricks, and Schemes, Drink This, Garden Rant Cocktail Hour
As if they knew, the entire crew of Erlicheer tazettas now installed in glass vases throughout my ground floor has indicated their willingness to bloom. Last year was characterized by a high percentage of bud blast, but then last year, we didn’t really have a winter. Welcome back! This...
Read more in: It's the Plants, Darling
In my narrow new townhouse garden, I immediately planted some evergreens that’ll eventually provide all the screening I need. In the intervening 3-5 years, however, should I resign myself to sitting in plain view of passersby on foot and wheel? A visiting gardener friend inspired me to DO something...
Read more in: Designs, Tricks, and Schemes
Guest Rant by Layanee DeMerchant I confess; I’m caught up in the romance and intrigue of the PBS series, “Downton Abbey.” I’m enjoying the fashion, the opulence and the stunning backdrop of a castle, on top of the great acting and the fascinating changes going on in British society...
Read more in: Everybody's a Critic, I Don't Have a Garden, but I Watch One on TV
My favorite blogging landscape architect, Thomas Rainer, posted a provocative report on Garden Design Trends, so let’s discuss, shall we? I wrote to Thomas for clarification and he kindly obliged. New Romanticism First, I love these predictions and sure hope they come to pass: People will turn to their...
Read more in: Designs, Tricks, and Schemes, Unusually Clever People
I’m not much of a pack rat, but I have saved old letters from the past thirty-five years. Gardeners, who it seems seldom had a boring day, dominate the files. Among them are letters from Christopher Lloyd and Elizabeth Lawrence, but I especially enjoyed rereading my letters from David...
Read more in: Guest Rants, Unusually Clever People
Please welcome Chad Smiley to the latest in our Get a Job series, in which we explore the many strange and wonderful careers in horticulture. Chad works for Friend of Rant Genevieve Schmidt. If you’d like to nominate someone to be interviewed in this series, please post a comment!...
Read more in: Get a Job
Susan asked in a post whether we should blame Frederick Law Olmsted for the popularity of lawn in the U.S., and we have an answer by guest ranter Thomas Mickey. Recent posts have appeared on this site that blasted the American obsession with the lawn. I have no problem...
Read more in: Guest Rants, Lawn Reform
THE TEN WINNERS HAVE BEEN CHOSEN. THANKS FOR YOUR QUESTIONS, AND THANKS, MIRIAM FOR ANSWERING THEM! Last weekend, the proprietors of Wildflower Farm paid me a visit while on one of their regular Buffalo business trips. Miriam Goldberger and Paul Jenkins’s seed business is located in Coldwater, Ontario, an...
Read more in: Taking Your Gardening Dollar
A big “thank you” to Margaret Roach for recommending a garden hose that’s unlike the many hoses I’ve used and hated over my lifetime of using them. Even (especially!) the so-called “never kink” variety, which have kinked for me as soon as a month after purchase. Hated them. Hated...
Read more in: Taking Your Gardening Dollar
Next up in our semi-regular Get a Job series is Sharon Stolen, coordinator of the Master Gardener program and all-round incredible resource for all things horticultural in southern California. She’s an incredibly smart, friendly, talented woman who works harder than anyone I know, and remains incredibly generous with her...
Read more in: Get a Job, Shut Up and Dig
Tony Avent had a lot of fun with people’s guesses, but as promised, released this version of their catalog with tags for all the faces. So commenters, here ya go. Oops – seems that the tags don’t show up here. So, click here to see it on the Plant...
Read more in: Who's Ranting About Us
Did you see the Renegade Gardener’s 2012 High Spot/Black Spot awards? I don’t always catch these, but Renegade Gardener Don Engebretson (award-winning Minnesota garden writer and designer) is recently a Facebook friend and that made it easier. There was much to love in this year’s batch of awards, but...
Read more in: CRRRITIC, Everybody's a Critic, Uncategorized
Time for a follow-up to my recent criticism of the all-turf American front yard, which we can thank Olmsted for popularizing both in parks and in front of homes. When commissioned to design a new town, he mandated 30-foot setbacks from the street. Readers here know that front yards...
Read more in: Designs, Tricks, and Schemes, Lawn Reform
Commented on Cats in the Garden - Solutions Only { I miss her, too. I wish I knew if/when she'll be available for blogging again. } – May 21, 11:00 PM
Commented on Cats in the Garden - Solutions Only { I am missing posts by Michelle.Will we see a post by her anytime soon? } – May 21, 10:37 PM
Commented on Cats in the Garden - Solutions Only { Joel, I like your response. You've taken your personal needs, your cat's needs and your environmental needs all into consideration, and come up with a... } – May 21, 10:02 PM
Commented on Plant Ideas Needed for Biodiverse Lawn { For Professor Roush. Although I can't find the orginal document, I've seen home (and landscape) versions of this, using PVC pipe, and cotton clothesline made... } – May 21, 5:15 PM
Commented on Cats in the Garden - Solutions Only { We live in a high-coyote neighborhood so we are blessedly free of the little feline rascals. The coyotes enjoy ratting too. } – May 21, 4:54 PMWe are:
perfect
magazine
gardens.
Gardening
our
asses
off.
Having a
hell of a lot
of fun.
