Ready to release beneficial insects indoors?
Yes, this is a thing. When I posed the question to a few close gardening friends, I got either or both of these responses: “Huh?” and “NO WAY!” However, I [...]
Elizabeth Licata
What’s in a decade? Plenty of gardening, for sure.
2010 was the year 70 garden bloggers came to Buffalo and toured this lovely spot, among others. There’s been a deluge of backward-looking articles and posts, so why [...]
Selfies by gardeners – is this really about plants?
I love my new monstera but not enough to take a selfie with it. The question was staring at me from my Facebook feed, in the form of [...]
Amaryllis – a no-maintenance plant, finally
But. Unsurprisingly, that is the opposite of what many gardeners want. After paying scant attention to this trend as talk of it reached me last year, I finally took the [...]
Bulb addiction – the first step is admitting you have a problem
This is the initial pile (partial view). At this moment, two things are true. I still have 4 boxes of bulbs—maybe 250 or so total—sitting in the back [...]
Burning bush – the shrub that won’t go away
Serviceberry, Boston ivy and hydrangea are at their best in fall here. And there are many, many other great choices. “What’s this beautiful shrub?!” was the question on [...]
Don’t worry: plant bulbs
Tarda 'Dasystemon' species tulips: these have returned for me for years. That’s the title of a talk I gave recently for a suburban/rural gardening club, though maybe it [...]
Optimistic about my garden this fall
Niagara River rapids in October It’s time to breathe a sigh of relief—one tinged with melancholy, perhaps. Aside from getting a few hundred bulbs in the ground before [...]
The silence of birds
Chickadee photo by Jay Burney Maybe I’m the only one who saw the recent articles and posts detailing a shocking loss in the North American bird population. Somehow, [...]
Houseplant mania reaches Buffalo
Exact name of this begonia coming soon For years I’ve posted about my indoor gardening scene and endured the derision/indifference of my fellow Ranters about my love for [...]
What butterflies, bees, and clickbait have in common
This was taken at a local nature preserve (the most recent butterfly image I had). This weekend I will be moderating a panel on how, I quote, “the [...]
Even the weeds are better in Britain
This green and pleasant land (from the train) Whether or not you prefer British garden writing or the Stateside variety (I just like good writing wherever it originates), [...]