Every year the National Garden Bureau, the non-profit organization whose mission is to disseminate basic information and instructions for backyard gardeners, selects one annual, one perennial, one edible and one bulb to be featured in their “Year of the …” program. Plants are chosen because they are popular, easy-to-grow, widely adaptable, genetically diverse, and versatile. … Continue reading Year of the Dahlia for 2019 →

Savoring Fall! (Or, Savoring the Fall!) It’s officially Fall and there’s much to savor. The days are shorter and cooler, and some tree leaves are beginning to come down. Especially outstanding are the Kousa dogwood berries. The seven-son tree (Heptacodium) is spectacular. Called autumn lilac by some, its sepal-like rose calyces elongate after blooming and … Continue reading Ripened Kousa Dogwood Berries →

We’ve received the following tips for the fall planting of vegetables from the National Garden Bureau: As you harvest your tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants, you might think your garden is winding down. But wait… You can start your fall planting now and reap a harvest all through the cool autumn season. Fall planting not only … Continue reading Tips for Fall Planting of Vegetables →

Mayor Martin J. Walsh is alerting Boston’s green thumbs that they have until Wednesday, July 11, to register for the annual “Mayor’s Garden Contest” presented by the Boston Parks and Recreation Department with a grand prize provided by JetBlue and media support provided by the Boston Herald. Yours truly fondly remembers the many years when … Continue reading Mayor’s Garden Contest →

We recently were delighted to receive the following information from our friends at the Arnold Arboretum: “When you plant a lilac in your garden you are choosing a shrub that is part of this country’s history. In 1767, for example, Thomas Jefferson recorded his method of planting lilacs in his garden book, and on March … Continue reading Lilacs at the Arboretum →