Cold Climate Gardening

So, who was the source for the mystery columbine? And how will I know if it ever gets a “real” name? And if I want to save seed from it, should I get rid of my other columbines? You sell more than one columbine–how do you keep your seed strains pure?

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We had a good rain last week Friday and the poplars, hydraulically powered, popped out their leaves and now the air smells heavenly. Even shivering in town at the Farmers Market on Saturday we all were mmm-ing over how the scent pervades the air. Of course the grass & dandelions are hydraulic as […]

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While pruning the apple trees this spring I noticed extensive bark damage on two trees, similar to damage I saw on the third apple tree last year. Since the problem was mostly located on a single tree last year, I simply removed the affected bark and took a wait-and-see attitude. That was probably not a […]

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My order from Judy Miller of Paradise Gardens Rare Plant Nursery (yes, the same Judy that wrote the post right below this one) came on Wednesday. All the plants looked as fresh as if they’d just come out of the ground. But I couldn’t plant until today, due to the fact that it was snowing […]

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I haven’t tried the Icicles but I’ll look for the seed. (HA! see below). Pansy seed from the glossies is spendy, true, but Stokes comes through often for me as well as HPS (which is a quasi-pro seed co. now in the same conglomerate as Jungs, Totally Tomatoes, Seymours, Vermont Bean Seed Co, […]

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I love them, too, but 2 things always get to me: one, the fact that they don’t winter over so well, and two, the cost of the seed–yikes! The one year I grew them, I think I did the Imperial Antique hybrid–in a single color, I think–and the Watercolor mix. They were beautiful, and […]

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Oh, I love pansies. I have been on a quest the past few years to find the hardiest varieties

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