I can’t remember if I planted this, or if it just showed upon its own, but it’s pretty splendid. Illinois native, early goldenrod. Meadow rue (thalictrum rochebrunianum) — blooming a little late this year, but I’ll take it. Six weeks of blooms in shade make this plant a treasure; one of my woodland garden favorites. […]
Afternoon in the garden, late summer. Read More »
There was a moment in grad school. Kevin and I had split up and I was desperately broken-hearted. I’d been getting up at 4 a.m. every morning to an alarm because it was the best time for me to concentrate, when the world was dark and still, writing by the light of a candle. I’d
Finished setting up the winter garden. It’s a multi-stage process: — first the plants, mostly tropicals, come in from the back deck. — then they get moved around, as I try to find the perfect combination of sunlight — there are only four sunny windows on the first floor, so sunlight is the
Shipping out signed copies of Perennial today to the ten people who pre-ordered, along with a little gift of a photo card of a flower from my garden, and a handmade fairy tale bookmark made with pressed flowers from my garden. I just wanted to say thank you for the early support — this creative
My books are here, my books are here! Woot! They look so lovely, just as I’d pictured them. Thanks to Jenn Reese for the gorgeous cover design, and to Steve Berman at Lethe Press for the beautiful overall design (I love the matte finish, Steve!). Thanks to Lethe as well for being willing to take
Perennial Arrives! Read More »
Came home from teaching and DOVE into the garden. Pruned two fairy roses, three David Austin roses, including the lovely Eglantyne, which I just got a compliment on from a neighbor, who remembered how gorgeously scented it was last year. Three more neighbors complimented me while I was working, including one woman (in her 80s
Nice gardening moment — last night’s pizza delivery came with an older man, maybe mid-50s, heavy accent that I couldn’t place, but might have been Middle Eastern. “Flowers not freeze?” [gesturing to the pansies, hyacinths, and muscari I’d potted up earlier in the day] “No, pansies are tough; they should be fine. Even if it
I’m planning to start seeds this weekend — it’s the first time I’ve done this in a systematic way, as opposed to just tossing a few random morning glory seeds in the ground and hoping. Some will be started indoors in trays (with light and heat), some (lettuce-type things) will be sown outside now, and
March is a tough time for a Chicago gardener. One minute it’s warm and sunny; the next there’s a snowstorm (we’re having one right now). There’s the desire to get out there and dig already (too soon!) set right up against the desire to hide under the covers for another two months. But this is
Marching into Spring Read More »
Have *finally* done the Perennial layout edits and sent the note to the layout person. I knew what I wanted done four months ago — why did I wait so long to do a five minute task? It bewilders me. Am hoping he can turn it around quickly, and we can actually be selling
