July, King of Flowers
By Leslie Watkins The botanical family Paeoniaceae contains just one genus; paeony or peonies, with over thirty species and more than a thousand named cultivars. These glorious blooms are large, extravagant, fragrant, long-lived and make wonderful cut flowers, if you can bear to cut them. They symbolize good fortune, a happy life and happy […]
May, The Queen of Flowers
By Leslie Watkins Of all the magnificent designs and decorations used by people to embellish their architecture, textiles, tables and walls, the rose motif is the most beloved. The Queen of Flowers has held us in her rapture for millennia. Rose fossils date back 35 million years. Ancient nomads traveled far and wide, bringing […]
April, Flower Power
By Leslie Watkins People around the world have used flowers to adorn their homes, grace their altars, celebrate special occasions and honor the dearly departed. When words fail, suiters express their love and admiration with bouquets. In addition to vegetables, herbs and medicinals, monks grew symbolic flowers for services and devotions. Cottage gardeners grow […]
March, Through the Grapevine
By Leslie Watkins Once upon a time, when jealous wives blamed the “other woman” for their husband’s infidelities instead of the husband’s lack of self-control, Zeus’s wife Hera had her hands full. During one of Zeus’s many indiscretions, this time with Semele, Hera tricked the young girl into demanding that Zeus reveal his true […]
February, Cats in the Garden
By Leslie Watkins During the long winter evenings, sitting on the sofa with the cozy company of our favorite cats, it is pleasant to think of the variety of felines we may soon get a chance to see in the garden. It won’t be long, for instance, before we start to notice the swelling buds […]
December, Of Chickadees and Chickarees
By Leslie Watkins Black-capped chickadees are among the first visitors to return to the bird feeder after summering in the woods. These curious little birds will alert others of your presence with the familiar “chick-a-dee-dee-dee” and will promptly answer your “chick-a-dee-dee-dee” in return. The more “dees” in the alarm, the higher the threat level. […]
Through the Garden Gate: November, Revelations
By Leslie Watkins After autumn’s chilly winds and drenching rains have knocked down the asters and goldenrods and the last leaves have fallen from the trees, hidden things are revealed. Stone walls, lost tools, vole holes and abandoned bird nests are evident. If you look very closely you may find a cocoon of Hyalophora […]
Through The Garden Gate
October, The Subterranean Apothec By Leslie Watkins If I could grow just one thing only, it would be Allium sativum. More than an absolutely indispensable ingredient for most of my favorite recipes, it also offers substantial health benefits while delivering good protection form vampires—useful at this time of year. Garlic has been used historically […]
Through The Garden Gate
September, The Art Of Letting Go By Leslie Watkins Autumn is the time of year when nature begins to let go of the surplus accumulations of summer. Leaves wither and drop, ripe seeds are released and swollen fruit falls. The life energy of plants begins to retract with shorter days and less moisture. Plants […]
Through the Garden Gate: August, Keys to Better Gardening
By Leslie Watkins Anyone can have a garden, but very few people have great gardens. People with nice gardens can easily have better gardens. By observing a few simple practices you can expect to see improvement in a relatively short time. Expect change. Gardens are alive, and all living things will change over time. […]
