Hanukkah or Thanksgiving?
Karen This year the beginning of Hanukkah falls on November 28, the same day as Thanksgiving. Hanukkah, also called the Festival of Lights and Feast of Dedication, is an eight day…
History of Gardens: Garden of Eden
The Garden of Eden occupies a unique position in the history of gardens. Described in Genesis 2-3 of the Christian Bible, it is where God created man and woman, animals,…
Hops and a Visit to a Microbrewery
I was looking through a catalog the other day to find a vine suitable for the obelisk in the formal garden and came upon hops. Two kinds were listed, one…
The Story of Iris
The genus Iris includes over 250 species that range in size from the diminutive Iris danfordiae and I reticulata (4-6”) to tall I. pallid, I. siberica, and I. pseudacorus growing…
Mushroom Fairy Rings
Have you every noticed that after a rainfall in spring or summer mushrooms spring up unexpectedly everywhere and are especially noticeable in lawns? The mushrooms may be small or large…
Gardens of Pompeii: Water Features
In the early days of Pompeii, the grand houses of the wealthy residents did not have an easy source of water and the gardens in the center of the houses…
The Story of the Common Hyacinth
The familiar hyacinth plant appears in spring with its heady fragrance and is loved by some, scorned by others. It became very popular in Holland during the 18th century and…
Gardens of Pompeii: Garden Ornaments
No matter how beautiful the planting of trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants may be, there is always room for ornaments. Water features are popular for sparkle, movement, sound, and coolness…
Gardens in Ancient Pompeii: The Peristyle
The houses of the wealthy ancient Pompeians usually were large and had many rooms organized around an open space. The open space was used as a garden and was surrounded…
Valentine’s Day Flowers and Cards
Flowers are as traditional as cards for Valentine’s Day celebrations. In bygone eras, Valentine’s cards often featured flowers as part of the sentimental message the card was trying to convey.…