Kathy Purdy

Forcing paperwhites is supposed to cheer the gardener through the gloomy, dark days of winter. But this gardener is wailing and gnashing her teeth because the paperwhites aren't cooperating!

It's an experiment: I'm wintering over a bunch of plants from my summer containers, hoping I can grow them again next year, even bigger and better. I know I don't have ideal conditions, but I won't know what works and what doesn't unless I try. Read along to find out how I'm storing over a dozen different plants.

What do your houseplants teach you? Houseplants are the only plants blooming in November, but they are fascinating in their own way. Here's what I've learned from a few of mine.

When does the gardening season end for you? The first frost? The first snowfall? I find it hard to call it quits, and here's why . . .

After ordering every colchicum offered in this country that I didn't already have for several years running, I thought this was the year I wasn't going to order any. No one was selling colchicums that I didn't already have. But then I was able to obtain some from an unexpected source. Come see the new colchicums that bloomed in my garden this fall.

Just in time for Halloween: the creepiest native plant I know! Do you dare to read about it? Don't blame me if you have nightmares!

Where do people get this silly idea that hardly anything blooms in autumn? I gave my colchicum presentation this week and one attendee remarked that I inspired her to have color in her fall garden. There's plenty of color in my fall garden, without even looking at the trees. Here's just a sampling of what I see as I stroll around.

I had a fabulous 60th birthday back in April. My family completely and utterly surprised me with a gift I never could have imagined and will always treasure. You've got to see it to believe it!

A goldenrod that grows in the shade? Yes, there is such a thing!