Trees have a character like people. Some of them are lovable; others a trifle crotchety. Birch Tree A gray birch, for example, is like a rough, aggressive little fellow born on the other side of the tracks who thrives under tough conditions. It is the first kind of tree to take possession of burnt-out land, … Read more
Proper precautions are necessary for a successful wintering of perennials, bulbs, ornamental shrubs and trees, fruit trees, and berries, where reasonably severe winters are normally expected. Seasons vary, and the homeowner who is just starting will surely get valuable advice from his neighbors who have had many years of experience under similar conditions. Moreover, they … Read more
The lowly shall be great: that has become the destiny of the corncob. It has long been recognized as a useful article for corn cob pipes, as litter for chickens, as feed for pigs, and finally, as a soil conditioner and mulch. The last high estate was reached after it began to be advocated with … Read more
Rock gardening on the West Coast has come a long way. The early English rock garden was likely to be a scaled-down replica of some minute fraction of the Alps, which an English gentleman wished to reproduce in his garden. Although the construction was sound and the plant material superb, the overall effect was not … Read more
When winter comes, we who live in the temperate zone button up our overcoats, don stadium boots, and perhaps even wear earmuffs to keep out the cold. That’s our way of coping with the climate in which we live. But how do plants living in the temperate zone cope with the cold season? Winter Survival … Read more
Just about this time every year, many gardeners face the sudden yellowing of the leaves on many of their plants—especially azaleas, rhododendrons, and roses. There is usually no indication of insect or disease damage, so the immediate reaction is that something is lacking in the soil, even though a regular fertilization program has been followed. … Read more
Everyone can recall delightful spring pictures of daffodils blooming amid groundcovers of pachysandra, English ivy, or vinca. Perhaps the unforgettable blues of scilla, muscari, and chionodoxa, popping up among covers of earth-hugging spring green, also come to mind. But, in fall, what bulb flowers are there to echo the liveliness of spring bulbs in a … Read more
Portland, Oregon, has been a plantsman’s stronghold since the early days of northwest exploration. In its immediate surroundings are many botanist landmarks, such as the old Hudson Bay trading post at Fort Vancouver, Washington (just over the river from Portland). David Douglas and other collectors after him used it as a base for their plant-hunting … Read more
This was the problem: Cambridge winters are often gray and dreary, and the view from a huge floor-to-ceiling window can be bleak. How to soften that snowy scene? The answer—a unique circular plant table, built to fit the curve of the big bay window and rising in tiers, like a fountain of greenery against the … Read more
Autumn is the season to harvest. Fruits have ripened on trees, and vines and vegetables have matured in fields. In gardens, flowering plants have completed their growth cycle and are preparing for rest. Autumn: Time of Rebirth Yet autumn is also a time of rebirth—a season to dig and plant again. Though the growing cycle … Read more