Blog – Classic Blog

Natural Companions

May 14, 2012 Gardening, Landscape Design

[caption id="attachment_959" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Companion planting of Aquilegia vulgaris double pink and Geranium pyrenaicum 'Summer Skies'; photographed 5/14/2012 in my garden"][/caption] Most gardeners have a library full of books. These days, it is rare to find one that really educates…

Sustainability – How Much Lawn Do We Really Need? Part 2

[caption id="attachment_1545" align="alignleft" width="300"] Unirrigated desert area with scrub in Southern California[/caption] Much of the world seems to be suffering from drought and problems that are a result of chemical residues. Although some lawn services exist that base their practices…

Give Thanks

November 28, 2012 Uncategorized

[caption id="attachment_1336" align="alignleft" width="300"] Roast turkey[/caption]   We all have troubles but this is a time to give thanks for family and friends, a home, and an income. We in cleveland can also give thanks that this area of the…

The Garden in Winter

December 5, 2012 Gardening, Landscape Design

[caption id="attachment_1362" align="alignleft" width="225"] Snow covered trees[/caption]     On a typical winter day, when the sky is gloomy gray and the wind whirls through the trees, what is there to see that will renew the soul? Is there any…

Beautiful Berries

December 18, 2012 Gardening, Landscape Design

I recently mentioned that winter days may be gray but planting colorful conifers will brighten your spirits. So will deciduous plants (those that lose their leaves in the fall) with colorful berries. [caption id="attachment_1377" align="alignleft" width="150"] Callicarpa berries[/caption]   On…

The Bonus of Exfoliating Bark

January 9, 2013 Gardening, Landscape Design

Many trees and shrubs have exfoliating bark that goes unseen during the growing seasons. During the gray days of winter, however, the bark comes to the forefront. [caption id="attachment_1402" align="alignleft" width="225"] Glistening bark of Acer griseum[/caption]   Acer griseum, the…

The Catalogs Are Coming!

January 16, 2013 Gardening, Landscape Design

[caption id="attachment_1428" align="alignleft" width="150"] Overburdened mailman[/caption]   This is the time of year to which all garden junkies and plantaholics look forward. The mailman’s back may be broken but our mailboxes are stuffed with plant catalogs and we gardeners are…