A Visit to Hever Castle, Kent, England
Karen The romance between Henry XVIII and Anne Boleyn is always interesting and a visit to Hever Castle heightens the story and makes it more real. The castle is actually a…
Bird Profile: Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)
Beware of the great blue heron! If a large gray cloud comes suddenly out of the sky and drops down on the edge of your fishpond, drop whatever you are…
Plant Profile: Paper Birch (Betula papyrifera)
The bright white trunks with black markings of this cold weather tree are striking and very eye-catching. Used as a specimen tree or grown in clumps it brings a beautiful…
How to Grow Sweet Peas in Warm Climates
I am drawn to sweet peas (Lathyrus odoratus) like a magnet; their colors, fluffy petals, and sweet scent never fail to attract me. When I lived in New York State…
Plant Profile: Paperbark Maple (Acer griseum)
This maple is a very special tree that gives year round interest to the garden. Its dark green leaves turn orange to red relatively late in autumn to reveal the…
A Visit to Villa D’Este, Tivoli, Italy
If you take a trip to Rome you should seriously consider going to Tivoli to see the spectacular Villa D’Este. This is a garden that will knock your socks off…
Bird Profile: Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)
When cold temperatures and snow settle on our garden many new birds find their way to our feeders. The Carolina Wren is not a frequent visitor but when he comes…
Plant Profile: Andromeda ‘Mountain Fire’ (Pieris japonica x florabunda ‘Mountain Fire’)
The bright red new growth of this wonderful shrub is a delight in late winter to early spring (and sometimes in summer). The rest of the year the fine textured…
How to Care for Roses in Winter
Roses take a rest in winter and so can the rose caregiver once the rose beds have been properly prepared. Winter care is not difficult but is important to protect…
Plant Profile: Rollison Fetterbush (Leucothoe fontanesiana ‘Rollisonii’)
An attractive U.S. woodland native in the mountains from Virginia to Georgia and Tennessee, Rollison Fetterbush is a good shrub for an ericaceous border, a shade garden, or as a…