LATEST RANTS
How the Grinch Recycled the Seasons
Streetcleaners scrubbed downtown Louisville this week. No more sodden leaves. Christmas wreaths of evergreens, pinecones and red bows suggested hope; leftover curbside planters suggested otherwise. Our garden is betwixt and between—neither hopeful nor hopeless. It is either a forlorn faux [...]
A Journey and Much Glory for a North Carolina Red Spruce, the 2022 Capitol Christmas Tree
UPDATE: Big spread in the Washington Post about this tree's role in the campaign to save the Red Spruce. (Paywall troubles? Try accessing it through your public library's website.) Ceremony in NC for the 2022 Capitol Christmas Tree - [...]
New Plant-Based Landmarks at the U.S. Botanic Garden
I last posted about the amazing plant-based monument replicas at the U.S. Botanic Garden back in 2018, and I think it's time for an update. One of the recent additions is this replica of the East Wing of the National [...]
Autobiography of a Garden – a book review
First, I need to say that this book was written by a great and well loved friend. However, in spite of my obvious bias, I believe this is the book to buy for your Christmas holiday reading or present giving. [...]
“One of my favorites: A blend of gossip, news, crusade and, yes, raw rant, it blows the cobwebs out of gardening’s mustier corners.”
– Washington Post gardening editor Adrian Higgins
When did it all get so extreme?
Just as many in America - as evidenced by this year’s election results - are hoping that people are drawing back from the politics of extremism, I’d love to see the same happen in gardening culture. Unfortunately, [...]
Crazy About Carpinus
In truth, there's not a lot of difference between the 20 or so hornbeam species, so collecting them might have been a little crazy. Still, I’m glad I did. They're all really nice trees. I've got specimens scattered around the yard and I've given several away to friends who are now in my debt and, because of that, try their best to overlook the awful things I routinely say and do when I'm around them. One thing I'll say about hornbeams that I can't say about most of my friends, they look wonderful from a distance and even better up close.
Time for houseplant fun
Yes, houseplants can be fun, and, in a month or so, after I finish with bulbs, they’ll be the only plants I’m tending until spring. I’ve never been sure why, usually when longtime gardeners gather, mentions of [...]
GardenRant Voices
GardenRant is the work of these highly opinionated gardeners:
GUEST RANTS
GardenRant welcomes “guest ranters” who want to take over our little piece of cyberspace for the day. Whether you’re in the plant industry or just an ordinary gardener with an axe to grind, you’re invited. Find out more here.
