Despite benign neglect on my part, our garden is looking remarkably well. For the first time in many Springs, we are not starting the season with more weeds than flowers! That's all thanks to our wonderful friends who contributed to a garden...
Eight ayem on April twentieth. I set the hoses and turned on the sprinklers. Let the watering begin! Well... we call it "watering" in our house but, lately, I have the term "irrigating" used instead. My understanding of "irrigating" has to do...
BYD equals Big Yard Day and that's what today is here at the White House in Oysterville. Glenna and Lee are coming to fluff and buff the garden beds -- maybe put a little more bark hither and thither. Tom-the-Mower-Man is coming to tidy up the...
Forty-one! Count 'em! Forty one mole hills (and remains of same) on our erstwhile Croquet Court (which really should be renamed "The Cannon Sward"). Actually, those forty-one are only on the east end of said sward. I gave up counting. And...
Larry Freshley once told me that his first job out on the oyster beds when he was thirteen or fourteen was cluster-busting. The task involves giving a large clump of oysters a smart rap with a crowbar or other heavy implement to separate the...
The sunshine began calling early yesterday morning. By noon, Nyel had positioned himself (in his wheelchair) in the kitchen so that the sun was beaming through the window right onto his face. There he sat, smiling and reveling in the warmth and...
It's been several months now since our replacement septic system was installed. The smooth expanse of sand over the new installation has given way to clumps of grass and dandelions, a bramble or two, and a number of recognizable weeds. We trust...
Yesterday morning I spent being whisked from one delightful setting to another that I'd love to tell you about – and will! – but not yet. Six beauty spots right here on the Peninsula. Each to be featured on the upcoming Music in the Gardens tour...
It seems to me that this spring has been especially lovely here on the Peninsula – not just weather-wise, but in the greening of the trees and in the great profusion of budding and bursting and blooming wherever I look. I can't remember a year...
My father really knew what he was doing when he chose to plant Jean Maries (as we call them for short) in our garden. I'm sure he chose them because of their brilliant scarlet color. And maybe for their name – he was always impressed by a...
There's nothing like a dollop of sunshine in an azure sky – even if it's for just an hour or so – to get you in the mood for a go at the garden. The other day, I couldn't help myself. Even though I had to layer up beyond ease of movement, I...
Won't you come into the garden? I would like my roses to see you. Isn’t that the loveliest thought? Roland A. Browne, author of The Common Sense Guide to Flower Gardening said it. I’ve added it to my ‘list’ of things I wish I’d thought of first. ...