With snow melting, I am now confident planting a second schefflera (Schefflera taiwaniana) along the driveway. Here, the snow has melted more quickly than the rest of the garden, but the schefflera replaces an often damaged, non-remontant hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla) planted years ago that rarely displays more than a flower or two. The mophead has…

A bunch of years ago, I built a pond in the garden. I knew just a little, but needed to know more to best serve customers of our landscape business. After rejiggering the pond several times, I finally got it nearly right. But, in addition to figuring some things to do and not to, I…

I don’t mind the snow for a day or two, and the recent snowfall was particularly useful in sheltering plants from the drop in temperature to four and five degrees (Fahrenheit) in the span of several days when daily highs did not rise sbove freezing. Little damage resulted from the snow and cold except for…

I do not question the numerous collections of plants in this garden. All are favorites, so why not plant more? While the possibility of cold damage to flowers of early flowering magnolias might eliminate their consideration in a smaller garden, the varying flowering times of multiple selections in this garden ensure that at least some…

The lull of winter dormancy is a time to evaluate and reconsider the garden. Always, something is missing, changes are overdue, and in January, there is ample time for planning. I don’t expect major changes in spring. I’m quite pleased with the long established gardens, and with additions made in recent years. But, as always,…

While noting various plants that remain unblemished by the recent low temperatures, I failed to inspect the brilliant yellow flowers of mahonias (Mahonia x media, now Berberis x hortensis, below) that were mentioned as a highlight of the snow-covered garden. A day earlier, all flowers remained intact, but after nighttime lows of five and nine…

I confess to woeful ignorance regarding microclimates in the garden. Occasionally, I’ll glance to note areas where snow melts quickly, but with infrequent snowfall, these details are quickly forgotten. Of course, you should expect I’d know where the warm spots are after thirty-five years. But, as with many details in the garden, I am apparently…

No doubt, in its native Australian habitat, grevillea (Grevillea victoriae ‘Murray Valley Queen’, below) did not develop with substantial roots to prevent its tilting after a few inches of snow. As a much smaller young shrub several years ago, the grevillea leaned severely under a much heavier snow load, probably our most recent snowfall of…

I shouldn’t complain. But I do, and I will every day until spring, though there is reason for joy each day as I whine that mild temperatures are so far off. I want to be outdoors, preferably in short sleeves, tidying up, planting, or only strolling, I don’t care. As I roam the garden in…

I am not surprised to see a few flowers on the yellow, threadleafed ‘Ogon’ spirea (Spirea thunbergii ‘Ogon’, below) this second week of January. Temperatures have been very average, not particularly mild, but it’s not unusual to see a few scattered white blooms later in winter. This is a week or two early, and the…

I’ve enjoyed photos of collectors’ gardens with plants displayed and tagged for identification, and while I’ve considered tagging in some inconspicuous manner to compensate for my forgetfulness, my eye prefers a less formal presentation. This garden has been laid out a bit at a time with no formal design, and while there are numerous collections,…

I make no apologies for my love of plants or for cramming this garden overly full with family members of plants that I adore. By love at first sight or a slow progression to become a favorite, I then search to obtain close cousins, certain I will have the same affection for other family members….