Far Reaches Farm February in the Pacific Northwest can be chilly, cold, and damp. Wearing a spring-colored orange raincoat, the color of a Echinacea ‘Tiki Torch’, doesn’t fool the weather gods. They didn’t care how cute, colorful, and spring-like I looked, they whipped me into a frost angel. I was in Seattle to speak at [...]
Each year for more than 20 years, the JC Rauston Arboretum in Raleigh, N.C., has held a spring fundraiser, Gala in the Garden. This year it features many new gardens. Many will come in festive hats, others in their finest garden-party attire, while some won’t care what they’re wearing as they make a beeline to [...]
The winter season brings a desire to dig into the dirt. The garden, however, isn’t ready when we are. The best stopgap as we wait for the soil temperature to rise, is going to a good garden show. Garden shows are always fun to attend. My gauge for a good show is: the better the shopping, [...]
Chihuly? When I was researching where Chihuly had exhibited outdoors it mustn’t have registered he had an exhibit in Phoenix, Arizona, or I would have had his work on my mind when I recently visited the The Desert Botanical Garden. It’s probably just as well because the surprise of seeing his work at the entrance [...]
A Gilded Flicker flies into a hole on the side of a saguaro cactus (Carnegiea gigantea), about 15 feet above the ground. To us, these nesting holes are called saguaro boots; to the birds, they are called home. They are a place to raise their young. Birds peck through the cactus skin, then excavates downward to hollow out [...]
Heronswood has a second chance. It was one of those do you remember where you were horticulture moments. I do. I remember exactly where and what I was doing. My moment came on May 31, 2006 as I was leading a planning meeting for Raleigh’s first Garden Conservancy’s Open Days tour, benefitting the JC Raulston [...]
March Madness: 2013 Philadelphia Flower Show – Brilliant! March madness has a whole new meaning for me; move over basketball!, I’m going to the Philadelphia Flower Show. This show is mad. If you go this year, you will get the royal treatment as the Flower Show prepares for a British Invasion, featuring the culture and [...]
Dear Vivien, Today I walked in my garden as I anticipate your visit this week. Looking around, I tried to see what you might see; I tried to feel what you might feel when viewing my garden. As friends, I know you will like my garden, because I know you like me. I know you [...]
I’m heading to the 2013 Chelsea Flower show with Triangle Gardener magazine. Have you ever been? The 2013 show will be extra special as the flower show celebrates 100 years! The Royal Horticultural Society has allowed only one tour group to function during the centennial show, and they have asked Triangle Gardener to be apart of that [...]
Days of old have gone with the wind and have been replaced with a refreshing breeze and a fresh face making the South proud. P. Allen Smith is the new face of the South–one that appeals across the nation. The man has good manners, excellent style, and impeccable taste. He is friendly, real, and puts [...]
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