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‘Horticulturist’
I was scratching around looking for something to write about and then this came to my attention. Well it’s not a bad question… Talk of divine inspiration; I was going to talk about snowdrops until I saw this. It even links to Anne’s recent post about irritating words in gardening. There has... -
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Garden Awards
A while ago Veddw Garden was declared one of the 100 best gardens in the UK. Even better, it was also one of the THREE best in Wales. Wow. A while ago, when lockdowns had ended, the National Gardens Scheme voted Hillcrest Garden the nation’s favourite Garden (I think Wales was the relevant... -
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A dirty word in gardening: Criticism
Today, or rather tonight (as I have let my day get away from me), I wanted to pick up on a discussion in the comments section of a post that Anne recently wrote regarding Garden Awards. Yes, we do read comments – even when we didn’t write the piece. They often spur discussions between us, and... -
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Come over for lunch and tell me what to plant
You want to grab a seat early when Carol Reese comes to town for a talk. She can a throw an entertaining stemwinder soaked with humor. The woman’s got soul and conviction. The former horticultural extension specialist in Jackson, Tennessee, came to Louisville ten days ago as the keynote speaker... -
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If you don’t influence me, I won’t influence you
Dale Carnegie might have difficulty recognizing the influencers of today. I’ve never read his book How to Win Friends and Influence People (1936 and 1981), but from what I’ve read about it – and there is plenty of commentary – it was about convincing people through trust, sympathy and sheer... -
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The myth of the “wild-type” or “straight species”
Guest Rant by Joseph Tychonievich There has been a lot of discussion in gardening circles about “nativars.” Is the term useful? How is it defined? The latest surge of comment coming from this generally excellent article in the Washington Post. But there is a concept that gets thrown around in... -
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If we stop doing garden clean-up, is it a garden anymore?
Hellebores and daffodils in late winter, with leaves covering them removed. Photo and garden by Marianne Willburn. I’ve written about the new messaging we gardeners are receiving – that for the sake of wildlife, we shouldn’t clean up our beds and borders in the fall but should “leave the... -
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Defending Bad Taste
I’m absolutely amazed by how many plants there are. I know the plants in my garden well; I have paid for them and chose them above others. Yet every time I visit a garden or a nursery I see plants that are new to me. It’s rather wonderful. I love this Narcissus ‘Ellen’ but don’t grow it... -
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Dissing “Lawn People” AND “Lawn Dissidents”? It’s DEI Day in My Lawn Class
In scrolling through the course offerings at the University of Maryland, where I’ve been taking classes for several years, I came upon this one: “Lawns in the Landscape: Environmental Hero or Villain?” listed in both the Environmental Sciences and the Plant Sciences Departments. So naturally I... -
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The effects of our racist and exclusionary history linger – even in gardening
Lone Tree, Thomas Pereira 2020 Do those of us who have rejected traditional lawn-focused front gardens in favor of edible or perennial alternatives need to check our privilege? It’s not entirely that crazy a question. While I understand and sympathize with Susan’s consternation over an... -
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Can we Stop the Misinformation about Lawns? Lessons from my College Lawn Class
When I signed up for the course “Lawns in the Landscape: Environment Hero or Villain?” at the University of Maryland I had suspicions, even after reading this description: “Examination of the lawn as an element in the anthropogenic landscape and its influence on global warming, regional air and... -
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Online Gardening Advice
I’ve not been too well this week. For the first time in years I’ve been tucked up in bed for several days with hot tea as my body fights whatever this malaise is; I’m very rarely ill at all, and this has really taken me out. Woken at some godforsaken hour by the feeling that someone has stabbed... -
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Native Plants as a Moral Issue? Consider Me Chief Heretic.
It is summer and I am standing in a large field/garden of native plants. It is one of thousands just like it, and I have seen so many in the last several years – a rangy offering of the usual suspects that effortlessly cements the gardener’s reputation as one of The Good, if not the imaginative... -
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Air Travel: How The Hell Is This Our New Normal?
I returned to my garden this week worn out. After a long drive north to a speaking engagement, but an even longer flight and overnight experience south to a conference destination an equal distance away, I began an early morning weeding session this morning and let my thoughts wander into what... -
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A Native Plants Enthusiast Responds to Marianne Willburn
Although native plants lend themselves to informal displays such as this combination of paper birch (Betula papyrifera) and Carolina lupines (Thermopsis villosa), the effect can be quite elegant. And maintenance, once the natives haves established themselves, is typically far less demanding than... -
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Evergreen Death by Drought! Plus, a Puzzling Graphic about Root Depth
We had two long hot and dry spells in the DC area this summer, and their impact can be seen all over town. Lots of dead conifers, especially Yews and Arborviteas. (Junipers seemed to thrive.) The drought also killed some broad-leaf evergreens, like these Cherry Laurels. And these grand old... -
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Kudos to Podcast about Nonnative Plants for Pollinators
In GardenRant’s 18-year history we’ve tackled more than a few controversial topics, including Marianne’s recent post about advocates of pure nativism, to which Ranter emeritus Thomas Christopher then responded. Lively discussions ensued! I love seeing disagreements aired and explored honestly... -
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Fixing the “Leave the Leaves” Meme
There, fixed it! Here’s another one. Or it could be fixed with just two words: “Where possible…..” If only there were room for 2-3 more words in this ubiquitous meme, so that conscientious, nature-loving folks would know to ask: gee, I wonder WHERE it’s possible to leave the leaves and... -
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Condemnation for Condemnation – However Virtuous
This week, Anne shared a post with me from Scribehound – a spanking new, paid-subscriber, UK gardening and countryside platform hailed with much fanfare, mutual-congratulations, (and not a little backlash) on Instagram this autumn. This post was by Kendra Wilson, a British garden writer who... -
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Doing Things Properly.
My father taught me that it is terribly important to do things properly. And his carpentry and work around our house exemplified this philosophy. This is my father, popping up through the roof in the process of making a dormer window for my bedroom. And here is the window, completed. I am...