The season has changed, but even with one ninety degree day after the other, the garden has not quite turned to its summer look. What look? Hostas in part sun fade, other broadleafs lose their vibrant coloring (reds and greens), and by mid season many will show a little crispiness around the edges. This garden…

I can’t help it. Hiking a lush mountain trail, I look at the splendid scene of the rolling Blue Ridge, but then am distracted by fern bordered, mossy boulders, or a clump of Clintonia (Clintonia borealis, below). My wife agreeably stops to view False Solomon’s Seals and trilliums, and any number of ferns that I…

I am not disturbed in the least that dead branches frequently fall from the Goldenrain tree (Koelreuteria paniculata) that borders the driveway. If this is a symptom of some greater problem (doubtful), all the better since the tree is the cause of many hours of labor as many thousands of seeds germinate. Yes, the tree…

There is some slight disadvantage to planting abundant quantities of trees in a space that should more properly contain half the number. Flowers of the Bigleaf magnolia (Magnolia macrophylla) are barely seen as lower branches have been shaded, and the green and white variegated leaf Chinese dogwood ‘Samaritan’ (Cornus kousa ‘Samaritan’) flowers sparsely, too shaded…

This week, I traveled across country for business, but two days early to visit gardens on Washington state’s Bainbridge Island and to hike in the Olympic National Forest. The weather on arrival was sunny and sixty-two, ideal for both leisurely garden strolls and strenuous climbs, fortunate timing since it turned hot a day later. Sunday’s…

My wife requests that I add a sitting area at the crook in the stream that is my favorite spot in the garden (below). She offers many suggestions, most that are diregarded with no consideration. This, however, has merit, I grudgingly admit, but where, and how? And, what would have to come out to accommodate…

Only one of four sweetferns (Comptonia peregrina) planted this spring has survived. Initially, two were delivered in very questionable condition, and one of the two replacements on the follow up delivery was a bit shaky (now dead, so very shaky). Sweetfern is reputed to be difficult to transplant, so I’m overjoyed with the one that…

Two thick clumps of Indian pinks (Spigelia marilandica) did not return this year, undoubtedly due to overly damp ground in the rear garden. It is likely I’ll replant some day when this area is not so wet, but three smaller clumps partially hidden along the driveway beneath a low branched ‘Jane’ magnolia are doing fine,…