Cold Climate Gardening

These were the next two to bloom after ‘Autumn Queen’. ‘Violet Queen’ I’ve had for a while. According to E. A. Bowles in Crocus & Colchicum, which is considered to be the definitive book on colchicums, ‘Violet Queen’ “has long pointed segments closely tesselated [that means checkered] on a bluish lilac ground contrasting pleasantly with […]

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This time of the year ushers in the beginning of my reading season. The daylight is less to be outside in, the chores are (supposedly) winding down, and the gardening books at the library are all checked in. ‘Regular’ gardeners are turning their attention to other topics so I find books I didn’t […]

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I have said before that the tractor may be my favorite gardening tool. I have many others, often not originally for gardening.

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My original intention was to photograph each colchicum variety at its peak and post on it that same day. Events such as rain, my back trouble, and the fact that I am the IT person for the family computer conspired to throw me off track, not to mention the usual duties of a homeschooling mother […]

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Christopher Lloyd and I apparently share the same philosophy: “We’re so restricted in so many areas of our lives ? have fun with gardening.” Well, that comes pretty close to Kathy’s First Rule of Gardening, which is, “If it’s not fun, don’t do it. Don’t turn your hobby into a chore.” This article by Valerie […]

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It has remembered it can rain. We have had rain and snow on the fires enough to get them contained, clear the air, and make some plants bloom out of season. Oriental poppies & rosemary both must be thinking, wow, that was awful, it must be spring now that it is better. […]

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Les Brake in Alaska shares some tips about helping plants make it through the winter in this HGTV article.

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