Snow salads
The snow storm of a few days ago was an early reminder of (perhaps) the season to come as Winter can be highly variable in Connecticut. Some years we have but a few trace dustings of white while for others over 100 inches of packed snow that don’t disappear from the landscape last until mid-April. […]
Winterberry blues
The winter garden has a different view than any other season. It is a resting garden, biding its time to launch into growth when the weather suits it. Among the populations, some of the bushes and trees hold onto reminders of warmer days. The crabapple is adorned with tiny, pendulous, dull red orbs, shriveled by […]
December fruits and ferns
With most deciduous trees and bushes devoid of leaves (save some species of oak (Quercus)) the green background of the forest has morphed into muddled shades of brown and gray. But if you look hard enough the lack of foliage reveals a rich crop of fruits that wintering birds, mammals (and the occasional human) can […]
Mellow yellow
The unusual snow we had yesterday came and went in a flash. Fluffy, tasty looking specks of snow drifted down yesterday morning coating the brown ground and the few remaining leaves on the trees. Japanese maples (Acer palmatum) are one of the few trees holding onto their leaves resisting the urge to abandon their perches. […]
Bird feeder
There are few more ideal quiet times for me than sitting on my Ikea Poang chair staring out the back sliding glass doors at the backyard woods and feeders. We have two feeders in the back—one with thistle seed and the other with sunflower husks. We gave up years ago on a less expensive millet […]
Virtual horticultural therapy: Ann’s Place scavenger hunt
As tomorrow is the Fall equinox, I thought that a scavenger hunt at Ann’s Place would be a great way to celebrate the changing season. I have put together a slideshow with the rules and the objects that people should search for in the different gardens and around the exterior of Ann’s Place. My ‘Where’s […]
Saving sunflowers
For the past few years, I have planted rows of sunflowers (Helianthus annuus) in the front yard near the fence. Sitting in the far north portion of my property, they don’t shade the vegetables that sit below them. Starting from seed, they pop from the soil in an unassuming fashion before becoming solar sentinels with […]
Picture perfect
The other day we had a typical August thunderstorm that came out of nowhere, dumped a half inch of rain in a hurry, then as quickly as it arrived left leaving broken branches, wet vegetation and a cool breeze. I thought little of its aftermath until Juana called me to her art room window telling […]
Back in the saddle again
“This is wonderful,” says Lisa, as she inhales the scent of fresh lavender (Lavandula) that she has picked from our herb garden. Other clients linger around the mints trying to decide which variety to choose. If it were not for the fact that everyone is wearing a mask, it would seem like any other normal […]
Powerless to recover
(This was written yesterday, power was finally restored today.) Without electricity for the sixth day, I am starting to truly appreciate how much work it takes to live without modern conveniences. Upon waking, I become a Sherpa or well-fed Gunga Din as I gather water from the cisterns to flush toilets, fill wash bowls and […]