A variety of roots, rhizomes, and corms were planted last year. Many were spring ephemerals, dormant by late summer when they were planted, so the  seven month period from planting until the first sign of growth brings a degree of uncertainty. In fact, in very early spring I look daily in spots where these were…

I wonder about a grouping of sweetbox (Sarcococca hookeriana var. humilis, below), planted in the curve of a stream constructed years ago. Yes, it’s a nice enough evergreen, and certainly it’s filled in nicely. Perhaps there is nothing that would do better filling this space, but it seems somewhat nonsensical to plant a shrub with…

I am a failure. I see grand, wide spreading displays of snowdrops or crocus in gardens, then compare my sad and paltry few. (I make only cursory mention of common, “can’t fail” perennials that have died three or more times.)The verdict is clear. I am not growing these properly, or I’ve planted far too few….

Recent mild winters have spoiled gardeners, now expecting abundant flowers by early March, and in February in gardens that have been planted with assorted late winter bloomers such as witch hazels and hellebores. Mild disappointment is likely when flowers arrive a few weeks later (a more typical schedule), and perhaps the start of this flowering…

However he is tempted, the gardener should never claim “there’s never been a winter like this one”. Every one is unique, with highs and lows and perhaps wild swings from the average, but there’s something unusual and much that is typical in every season. The one that is now thankfully past was very typical, with…

The back third of the garden remains impassable, not literally, but good judgment dictates that more harm than good is done by forging ahead and destroying lawn that is fully saturated. Yesterday, following a few days without rain, I ventured close to try again, but backed away when I saw deer tracks that had sunk…

Even the early hellebores are late this year. Occasionally, there will be a few scattered blooms before the new year in this garden, and often there will be handfuls flowering late in January. This year, there was a single hellebore with a few flowers in early February, but no more until the past week or…

In January, there was widespread concern, though none in this garden, that daffodils grown three inches tall, with the worst of winter ahead, would surely be damaged by cold. Six weeks later, these have hardly grown another inch, though the start of flowers are visible on some. As is usual, the common ‘February Gold’ will…

I must be patient, no matter that I am not, and never will be. Many dozens of tiny corms and rhizomes were planted at various times last year, somewhere, with a few marked by small bamboo stakes placed afterwards to the best of my recollection, which is often not so good. Locations will not be…