Musings on horticultural therapy and the soothing effects of plants and nature
Many people think of crocuses as a Spring flower but my favorite ones emerge in Fall. And my most treasured among those is the saffron crocus (Crocus sativus). Dormant through Summer, it pops out of the soil in early-to-mid October with a colorful display of purple leaves, yellow stamens (male) and bright red stigmas (female). […]
Returning home after five weeks in warmer climes, we didn’t know what to expect. It appeared that we missed only one major snow storm. So we were pleasantly surprised on what we discovered. The hellebores, aptly named Lenten Roses, have started to bloom reminding me to remove their desiccated leaves from last year. Not too […]
A cool breeze and more moderate temperatures greet us as we leave our hotel. Before we start our 38-mile journey to Boonville, we visit the Katy Depot in Sedalia. It is a wonderful museum that recounts the history of how Sedalia became a railroad town. It also reviews the history of one of its most […]
Finally! The Christmas tree and nativity are up. The tree was cut a few weeks ago when snow still coated the ground. For the last five years or so, we have been harvesting our tree from the yard, where I planted a dozen Norway spruces a few years back. (The softer needled fir stands little […]
I’m lucky that the oppressive heat of the last week has taken leave for my horticulture therapy class. Usually the Summer solstice celebration happens around the summer solstice, when the weather is nearly perfect in New England. But after catching a bout of Covid, I had to delay the class and change its focus. “. […]
It’s a Goodreads Giveaway! I am giving away five first edition signed copies of “A Therapist’s Garden.” This Giveaway will end on March 23 and is available in the United States. My book covers 20 years of horticultural experiences with a wide variety of clients showing the healing power of plants. There are many gardening […]
Bone chilling cold. Taking the compost out, the temperature, or lack of one, takes my breadth away. At 10 F in the shade, each puff hurts. When I exhale through my nostrils, little stalactites of ice form on my mustache. To me that is the sign of cold. Most the plants stoically stand, unmoved much […]
Just when the gardens have been put to bed, it is time to order seeds for the coming year. I get most of mine from Fedco Seeds, which has a great selection of heirlooms as well as good prices. Before I order, I go through the seeds I still have from the prior year to […]
Tonight’s Winter Moon is escaping the grasp of neighboring maple (Acer) and oak (Quercus) trees as it rises above a conifer lit for the holidays. It’s the last evening prior to the solstice and the night is crisp and cold as it should be in New England. The air freezes the inside of my nose […]
The popularity of my sessions at Ann’s Place vary widely. A recent one on how to forage for wild salads had smaller attendance than typical and less participation than normal. Though everyone loves the May wine I offer spiked with sweet woodruff (Galium odoratum) and strawberries (Fragaria × ananassa) as well as dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) […]