Month: May 2013
A Fine Year For Bleeding Hearts
The old-fashioned bleeding hearts (Lamprocapnos spectabilis) in my garden are looking very happy this year, the moist cool spring must agree with them. They are bushy and robust, with many long stems lined with dangling pink and white flowers. The unique shape of the bleeding heart flower certainly suggests the origin the plant’s name, though …
An Early May Walk Through the Chicago Botanic Garden
Last Saturday morning, after finishing my class at the Chicago Botanic Garden, I walked outside and realized that it was a perfect day. Perfect days have been few and far between this spring, so I called Judy and asked her to come up and meet me so we could take a walk and enjoy the …
My New Bird Feeder For Orioles
I have more bird feeders than I can actually use at any one time. That’s OK, though, because I like to change feeders and types of food as the seasons progress. For instance, I stop feeding peanuts once the warm weather is established. These changes keep the birds on their toes (or would if they …
It’s Spring. Do You Know Where Your Perennials Are?
When I was growing up in the late Mesozoic era, TV stations used to demonstrate their civic responsibility by running a particular public service announcement. The one I have in mind usually had a still shot of some teenagers on a dark street, obscured by shadows. And there would be an announcer, asking more in …
So Happy I Could Cry
This is a very stressful period for some garden bloggers (namely, me). On the one hand, we have had another glorious weekend and I am almost overwhelmed by all the wonderful blooms now returning to the garden, not to mention the new plants being installed. I want to write posts about all these developments for …
Return of the Prodigal Grosbeak
The beginning of May is when many migratory songbirds return to the Chicago area. And so, before leaving home for a business trip, I stocked the bird feeders with some of their favorite foods. Sure enough, when I returned today, there were Baltimore Orioles and Rose Breasted Grosbeaks making themselves at home in the back …
Forsythia: For Or Against?
Forsythia bushes bursting with bright yellow flowers is a common springtime sight in this part of the world, a sight that lifts the spirits of many. Yet not everyone loves forsythia. The anti-forsythia camp argues for an indictment of this shrub on the following counts: An exotic, it is of little wildlife value in North …
End of Month View: April 2013
Helen at The Patient Gardener‘s Weblog hosts a meme called End of Month View, which is pretty much what is suggested by the title. This is a very useful exercise because I am often tempted to show close ups of a particular plant or a grouping of plants. Wider views of different sections of the …
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