Autumn Dilemma

It used to be so easy in my father’s day. In mid-winter, gardeners received mail-order catalogs from many far-flung nurseries and plant purveyors. Mailboxes groaned under the weight of all the catalogs, but no one minded because there is nothing […]

Growing Guide for Hepatica

Hepatica Plant Care Today I went out my back door and noticed that one of my rosebushes was, unexpectedly, sporting a fresh new flower bud.  It was within a day or so of opening up–small, greenish and obviously defiant of […]

Gardens in Bloom

One of the great things about walking for exercise is that it allows you to see marvelous things—architectural details on buildings, variations in paving and curbing materials, and, of course, gardens. Experience and the loud honking of other peoples’ horns […]

Harvesting Pumpkins

HARVESTING PUMPKINS AND OTHER OCTOBER GARDENING TIPS By October, frost has hit just about everywhere in Vermont, which means there’s not much growing in the garden any more. So, it’s time to harvest those pumpkins and root crops and put […]

Harvesting Garden Berries and Fruit Trees

I have just finished reading The Lost Gardens of Heligan, a wonderful book by [fill in name] Smits. The story, which is true down to the last botanical name, is about the rediscovery and renovation of Heligan, a 19th-century estate […]

Gardening tasks to Do in October

Autumn is in the air. Clouds suc­ceed each ray of sunshine. This is the season of fulfillment. Seeds and fruits are ripening. Buds are being covered by fur coats. The wild beasts are storing food. Man is changing his summer […]

October Gardening Tips

If you’re wondering what gardening tasks to perform in October, first you need to understand your gardening zone.  Now you understand your gardening zone, below defines the tasks to perform for your garden. Zone 1 Finish planting container-grown trees and […]

Houseplant care and other September gardening tips

Acclimatizing houseplants, dividing daylilies, and controlling slugs are some of the garden activities for this month. Gradually condition or “acclimatize” indoor plants that have spent the summer outdoors to lower light conditions. Move them to a shady spot outdoors for […]

Gardening tasks to Do in September

September is the wise uncle of the months. He looks at us and says: “Now I don’t want to preach, but you can see for yourself. You did not plan to plant enough flowers that bloom late, and last spring, […]