Thursday, October 25, 2012

Seasonal Shifts, Time Crunches, and The Ant and The Grasshopper


Illustration by Milo Winter ( 1886-1956)

There are days when I wonder why I garden at all. As much as I like to think of gardening as a relaxing and healthy activity, it can often be a high pressure affair. Don't believe me?  Well, let me remind you about the ant and the grasshopper.

Friday, October 19, 2012

From The Garden Bookshelf-The Unexpected Houseplant

tovah
The Unexpected Houseplant

By Tovah Martin with photographs by Kindra Clineff.
Timber Press, 2012


I have to admit that I had just about written off the growing and care of house plants as an endeavor I should simply leave to others with greener thumbs than mine.  I have never been accused of outright premeditated botanicide but, on the other hand, my friends know that, through a combination of stupidity and negligence, I'm perfectly capable of inflicting great injury on even the hardiest and most street-smart of indoor potted plants.  Friends and family abandoned the idea of bringing me gifts of indoor plants long ago as a hopeless cause.  And, I never get any house-sitting requests from friends who need a little plant care while they're away on vacation.  They never call.  And for good reason. Because I've never been able to master even the simple basics of nurturing a houseplant, like the whole overwatering--underwatering thing, they know that the plants would probably have a greater chance at survival if they grew legs and went searching for food and water on their own.

But now, there's this great new book by Tovah Martin that gives me hope that, with just a little intervention, even a serial begonia killer like me might once again hold his head high among indoor gardening society.

Sunday, October 14, 2012

A Little Moreton-In-Marsh Diversion



photo courtesy of Jon Fox Antiques
Not long ago, I stumbled across this little shop in the town of Moreton-In-Marsh, in the Cotswolds of England.  Jon Fox, the amiable owner (in photo at left), opened his shop here in 1983 and has a wonderful collection of garden and architectural antiques. Jon was kind enough to let me snap a few photos to whet your appetite.  To learn more about Jon's shop and to take a look at some of his current inventory, you can check out his website by clicking here. And, before you ask...yes, he ships!

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Guest Blogger- Gordon Hayward

photo by Gordon Hayward

A September Visit To Rosemary Verey's Barnsley House


On Wednesday, September 19, Mary and I visited the late Rosemary Verey’s Barnsley House Gardens to be part of a small group of people who signed up for lunch in the restaurant there along with a tour of the gardens with head gardener Richard Gatenby.  I thought I’d just tell you a bit about what has happened to house and garden since Rosemary died in 2001.
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