Blogs

In a way, garden clubs are an act of peaceful resistance. It is the perfect way to encourage communities to turn to the earth for positive engagement. Limited funding for a planting to brighten up an area in need of a facelift? Try partnering with a local garden club. Enlist the youth, a science club, an organization like the Boys and Girls clubs, or even the Scouts to play a role in the effort.  Remember,

Iris found on family land in South Carolina reminds me to acknowledge my ancestors. Iris are something I look forward to returning in my garden. Observing the spear-like foliage emerge from a non-descript rhizome, gives me hope. At some point a stem emerges, evolving into a beautiful bloom. The Iris, carefully planted in my garden are quite sacred, at least to me. Found at our family homestead in South Carolina, this particular Iris was not

Betty Corning clematis reminds me of Big Betty at church. Betty Corning Clematis reminds me of Big Betty and the hats she wore to church. Big Betty was a lady who stood tall and sat in the front pews at Church, even with her bold Church hats on. I admired Betty due to her big hats, which always matched her outfits. Growing up, it was always exciting to see what color combination Betty would wear

Slowly, the voices of wisdom are fading away. Are we reaching back to remind our youth of the journey? Slowly, the wise voices of the garden are disappearing. I often wonder who is listening. Who is taking the time to sit at their knees, absorbing wisdom that will soon disappear? There is joy when listening to seasoned figures in the world of horticulture who have similar perspectives. I rarely see more than a handful of

Black Flora – Inspiring Profiles of Floriculture’s New Vanguard is a long overdue book. Black Flora was a mere seedling of a thought in 2021. The opportunity to write a book focusing on African American flower farmers was quite exciting. I accepted the offer with enthusiasm. After much discussion the conversation about who to portray broadened. We decided to include the diverse stories of African Americans who work with flowers. The initial release in February