Blog
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First Fire of Season
About an hour ago, I started the first fire of the season in the wood stove. It’s October 14th and overcast, 53°F, and starting to rain. While it’s 63°F inside the house, and a sweatshirt takes the chill off, it’s cold to me. After lighting, I walked into the room with the stove and noticed…
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Tree Petunia Flowers?
The other day, I spotted a beautiful pink flower two feet off the ground and felt a rush of adrenalin, thinking I discovered tree petunia flowers. Upon closer inspection, I realized my self-sewn petunias had grown into a Cornell Pink Rhododendron. I still think it’s cool! You’ll see Hartlage Wine Calycanthus foliage to the right…
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This is VERY Serious Business – Cat in Window
This morning, dappled clouds filled the sky with temperatures in the upper 40s after a couple days of rain. The air was clean and damp, and the light was perfect for photography. I grabbed the DSLR and tried to take a picture of everything at once. A sure recipe for disaster. After almost 200 photos,…
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PeeGee Hydrangea Window Peeping
The off-white PeeGee Hydrangea contrasts warm yellow lamp light inside the house viewed through a double-hung window older than me. PeeGee Hydrangeas give instant class to any landscape. Click on image to view larger.
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PeeGee Hydrangea Full Bloom
PeeGee hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata ‘Grandiflora’) gives instant elegance to any landscape. PeeGee Hydrangea – Hydrangea paniculata ‘Grandiflora’ The white, reliable blooms of PeeGee Hydrangea slowly become pink as fall progresses. Other features of PeeGee Hydrangeas include a course habit and yellowing leaves as the temperature grows colder. Prune PeeGee hydrangeas whenever you see fit, for…
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Patriotic Lambsquarters
Last week, I woke early and headed out to hone my photography skills. While I would like to put all of my award-winning photos in one post, I realized a picture truly is worth a thousand words and decided to break up the posts. Click on a photo to open a larger version. Patriotic Lambsquarters…
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Cocktail Vodka Wax Begonia
Last year, when I walked Lafayette Square in Washington D.C., the wax begonias were thriving in the summer heat. The memory motivated me to plant Cocktail Vodka Wax Begonia this year. Wax begonias are easy to grow and provide interest from the moment they’re planted until first frost. Cocktail Vodka Wax Begonia Here are my…
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What Doesn’t Belong Here?
I stumbled on a corn plant while maintaining a client’s garden a couple of months ago. Most people would have pulled the plant. I love it when volunteers show up in the garden! Whether animal or vegetable, it doesn’t matter. Nature is Random and Ordered Nature is both random and ordered—certain plants like certain conditions.…
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Will Petunias Self-Seed?
If soil and light conditions are right, Petunias self-seed readily. The secret is to avoid accidentally weeding tiny petunia seedlings in late spring. Self-seeded petunias germinate around Memorial Day here in USDA Hardiness Zone 6. Right when spring rains start to dry out and the air temperature is on the rise. Petunia seedlings outgrow weeds…