Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas, is situated on the small, lovely island of New Providence, surrounded by waters of the most unbelievable blues and greens. We arrived in July when the abundance of brilliant and spectacular bloom was at its zenith. Royal Poinciana The royal poinciana continued to display its vermilion mantle while the … Read more
It should be called “OUR GARDEN” because my wife’s contribution to it is no mean thing. For almost 15 years, we were in the habit of bragging that year in and year out, we never had to buy any vegetables except potatoes. Lately, owing to increasing years (or is it laziness?). I have had to … Read more
Everybody likes to take a busman’s holiday now and then. For me, that’s visiting the folks who sell garden tools. I recently took a day off just to do that and see what they would feature this fall. As everyone knows, garden tools and supplies are made to help you garden more efficiently. So it’s … Read more
If you want to know how much fun it is to own a greenhouse, “Ask the man who owns one!” FLOWER GROWER did just that. But we didn’t ask one man. We asked 140 greenhouse owners in all sections of the United States about their greenhouses and the plants they grow. After all the facts … Read more
Today, the art of flower arrangement takes in a lot of territory; sometimes, it seems to me it includes everything but flowers. Compositions are built around figures or masks; each pod, cone, or leaf that can be dried is approved; shells are popular—oyster, conch, and coral—and with these, cork. I see cypress “knees,” wisteria and … Read more
The plane rose from Merida, our last stop in Mexico. The pilot circled to glimpse the pyramid-type Mayan ruins outside this hot, tropical city of the Yucatan lowlands. Soon we were thousands of feet up, climbing through the high mountain passes of Guatemala, headed south toward Guatemala City. Our wing tips seemed almost to touch … Read more
To visit England is to visit a land of gardens—the most beautiful gardens in the world. And a large proportion of these gardens is open to the public, either for a charitable cause or on behalf of the National Garden Scheme to help impoverished owners keep them up. No article about this ancient and widely … Read more
Bodnant, near Conway on the north coast of Wales, is one of the world’s great gardens. Even in Great Britain, there is nothing to compare with it. A series of broad terraces, with a vast panoramic view across the Conway River to the lofty mountains of the Snowdon Range, makes a dramatic setting for a … Read more
Drainage is important whether we plan a small vegetable garden or a large orchard, a new lawn or flower border, or simply potting a plant. For aquatics and swamp-loving plants, wet conditions are desirable but most plants, including trees and shrubs, will die if their roots are in water too long, even in winter. Adaptable … Read more
Essentially every design embodies an idea that is dynamic or static. Like a piece of music, a garden can be composed with a recurrent theme, a rising and falling cadence, and definite accents at regular intervals. The composition may be filled with movement and lively contrasts or sink to a dead level. Nature will always … Read more