Month: November 2014
Thankful for Coyotes
Judy saw a coyote trotting down the street in front or our house a few days before Thanksgiving. Hurrah! I like to think that this means we now have our own neighborhood coyote, maybe even our own pack. We need some predators around here to control the number of rodents, especially (speaking as a gardener) rabbits. …
Who Wants Some Free Purple Milkweed Seeds? Limited Supply!
Purple Milkweed (Asclepias purpurescens) is an excellent garden milkweed that for some strange reason is difficult to find. What’s so unique about Purple Milkweed? First of all, it actually prefers part shade. It will grow in full sun, but will then need more moisture. Secondly, it is very polite, spreading only moderately by seed. Both …
First Snowfall
Last Sunday we awoke to an inch or so of snow on the ground. Nothing like the avalanche that hit western New York, but a bit startling even so. It was frigid through most of the week, then warmed up. The snow left little white hats on the dried flower heads of the ‘Annabelle’ Hydrangeas. …
Are All Milkweeds Good For Monarchs?
There was an interesting article in the New York Times on Monday about Monarch butterflies and milkweed. The takeaway is that planting Tropical Milkweed (Asclepias currasavica) may do more harm than good, according to several researchers. Milkweeds, of course, are the only plants that are eaten by the caterpillars of Monarch butterflies.Changes in farming practices …
Floramagoria Part II
Floramagoria, a private Portland garden I discussed in the last post, has a lot of stuff that can make you smile, even giggle. But this garden is not all giggles, no. It is a seriously gorgeous garden. The front garden is quite attractive, in a restrained sort of way. It gives you no clue of …
Quirkiness Supreme at Floramagoria
Floramagoria is a remarkable private garden we got to see during the Garden Bloggers Fling in Portland back in July. The garden was striking for its design and combination of beautifully grown plants. But it also contains a highly concentrated and entertaining dose of whimsy. There is so much in this garden that I’m doing …
Botany for the Willfully Ignorant: Why I Don’t Grow Succulents
Let me start with a few acknowledgments. First, I know almost nothing about succulent plants. However, this does not prevent me from exercising my rights as an American to have opinions about them. These opinions may not be based on fact. However, I feel that they are true. Therefore, while they may not be accurate, …
NYC Has Its High Line, Soon Chicago Will Have The 606
The longest rails-to-trails project in the world is right here in Chicago, and is scheduled for completion in June, 2015. To find out more, I took advantage of an opportunity to interview in writing Beth White, the Chicago Region Director of the Trust for Public Land. Can you give me an overview of The 606’s …
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