It's not often that two seasons arrive at the same time, but I truly think that Spring waited this year until she was certain that Summer was underway. Finally, the pollinators are arriving -- too late for our Jean Marie rhododendrons in May but...
Those rock-hard Bartletts are beginning to drop from our old pear tree and, judging from the calling cards left by the deer people, we are getting a few hungry visitors each night. I've tried to remember to spray their "candy patches" -- the roses...
Oysterville has long been known for its picket fences. Not so much that it has them. Lots of places do. The commentary on our fences over the years has been upon their variety more than upon their actual existence. I wonder if that's because...
So far, August has been the best of times and the worst of times in our South Garden. Thanks to our Garden Girls -- their suggestions, their heavy lifting, and their relentless weed-and-critter patrol -- our flower beds have never been more...
The hydrangeas sit south of our house Two of them, side by side. They seem to be sisters About the same size Blooming together Year after year. Why then Is one smiling with health And one curled up in death Today after our 105° of Sunday sunshine?...
Roses and poppies and salvia... oh my! The garden is poised for summer and promises to be bursting forth in all its glory about the time the Solstice arrives a week from tomorrow. Especially the roses. The Yorks apparently love being in the big...
Our world has been gray and green for so long now that the single pink camellia felt like a visual assault. Not very big and not especially bright -- not neon-sign bright or day-glo paint bright. But, even so, she got my full attention when she...
My grandmother once wrote to her teenaged daughter, Medora, who was away at boarding school: I do hope you are not slicking up the sides of your hair. I know it will take the curl out. Ruth ought to be a continual object lesson to you as to how...
So, now that the library is open, we are back to the waiting game. Only worse. The books that were on hold for us in March are again making their way through the list of waiting patrons, but the books we were reading to tide us over are long...
"Christopher Robin gave me a mastershalum seed, and I planted it, and I'm going to have mastershalums all over the front door." "I thought they were called nasturtiums," said Piglet timidly, as he went on jumping. "No," said Pooh. "Not these. These...
Back and forth, forth and back I walked yesterday morning. 8,000 steps and all before breakfast! And all because our "lawn" to use the term loosely, is more buttercups and dandelions than grass. "Weed and Feed" we were told by the experts. Best...
The Reds are out in all their glory -- the Jean Maries along the west and east fences, the huge no-name Red in front of the chicken coop and the smaller no-name Red near the cannon. And, of course, Little Red Hen and Nyel-Who-Once-Was-A-Redhead,...