Monthly Archives: October 2010

Dutch Wave Breaks Over New Amsterdam

At the Battery, Piet Oudolf has written another glorious fall chapter to the story of the renaissance of urban gardens in New York City. Here at the Battery Bosque, the emphatic sweep of plants is at times even more dramatic … Continue reading

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Weedy, Weedier, Weediest Mullein

A white seedling of Verbascum phoeniceum is enthusiastically blooming away after the October surprise of early rains. It held on to its basal leaves in the sere gravel garden all summer in hope of some form of irrigation. Tough little … Continue reading

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More Echeverias

This mossed basket of various succulents failed to really gel over summer, no doubt from a bad habit of sticking in a hodge-podge of succulents that break off from plants in the garden and need a home to root in. … Continue reading

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The High Line in Autumn

Crocus sativus, the saffron crocus I first became intrigued by the High Line when it was in its derelict state. I’d read a New York Times piece about an abandoned elevated railway in Manhattan, its purpose as a rail line … Continue reading

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While You Were Away

I swing between elation and despondency upon returning from an absence to be confronted by a garden that obviously carried on beautifully while I was away. Bravo, everyone is alive and thriving vs. sniffle, I am clearly superfluous. As usual, … Continue reading

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Sky’s The Limit

It was recently calculated (but not by me) that my little back garden is all of 882 square feet. After 20 years of gardening here, methodically covering every inch of that 882 square feet, with moisture and light now robbed … Continue reading

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Nerine sarniensis

(Followup to Nerinomania.)

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Salvia ‘Limelight’

I certainly don’t have a garden large enough to include a 6×6 fall-bloomer like Salvia mexicana ‘Limelight.’ And I don’t think there’s an affordable pot in existence roomy enough for a mature plant, except maybe the humble trash can. (On … Continue reading

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Nerinomania

I went on a treasure hunt for a half-forgotten bulb in the front gravel garden in early fall, Crinum ‘Sangria.’ I was certain it was in there somewhere. That’s when I noticed the new green tips of the nerines piercing … Continue reading

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Dishing with the Girlfriends

You didn’t really expect we’d be discussing the latest Manolo Blahniks, did you? Below is the transcribed conversation of a group of cyber garden pals on the topic of various approaches to overwintering tropicals. All but me garden in a … Continue reading

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