Blogs

Gardentopia captured my heart like any book written by Jan Johnsen tends to do. It was hard to turn the page without a lot of emotion from the beauty on each and every page. Gardentopia Design Basics for Creating Beautiful Outdoor Spaces by Jan Johnsen is a five chapter blueprint of brilliance in landscape design. Novice or experienced gardeners will see the value of having this book in their collection. Trust me, it will not sit on

Patch of Heaven Director and Horticulturist, Mr. Hubbard welcomed us for the experience of a lifetime. Dear Patch of Heaven, You made me fall in love with nature more than ever before. There was a consistent phrase I kept hearing from several attendees on my trip to TPIE. Day 1 of the Tropical Plant International Expo Road Show included a tour of private gardens. I kept hearing murmurings. “I wonder how long we will have to spend at Patch

Oh how beautiful tropical plants are in the landscape… Tropical plants are not usually on my brain in January. The Cottage is in zone 6b. The ability to grow tropical plants is utterly impossible. If you have an indoor garden room, tropical plants are a bonus in the midst of winter. At this time of the year checking for heaving plants is the task at hand. This year, a fellow GardenComm member Sylvia Gordon encouraged

Spring blooming trees add color to an otherwise bleak landscape… Spring has sprung. When I walk Precious it is dark, but not as dark as last week. I could feel Spring embracing me. It was warmer, the air felt lighter, the birds were singing and the woodpecker chorus was in full swing. In the distance, the moon in it’s waxing crescent shined a bit of light along the way. I knew the presence of Spring

Seed sowing is this Gardener’s Winter Olympics. This is becoming a National trend. Got seeds? Seed sowing season begins right after the new year. I noticed when the wrapping paper goes on sale, the seed stands take their place. For the past 10 + years, Washington Gardener Magazine has hosted the Annual Seed Swap in the Mid Atlantic. A popular pre-Spring ritual, this event has brought wonderful speakers, cultivated conversations and grown a seed sowing