Monthly Archives: July 2010

Botanic Garden or Theme Park?

Posted on July 27, 2010 by

  Today’s New York Times contains an article titled “Botanical Gardens Are Turning Away from Flowers”. The reporter claims that: Among the long-term factors diminishing their traditional appeal are fewer women at home and less interest in flower-gardening among younger … Continue reading →

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In Memoriam: Malcolm C. Shurtleff (1922-2010)

Posted on July 22, 2010 by

Mal Shurtleff was my gifted plant pathology professor. He was also my friend, my mentor and my inspiration. The American Phytopathological Society (APS) wrote of him:  “Dr. Shurtleff is generally recognized as one of the preeminent plant pathologists in the world.”

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Aggressive Annuals

Posted on July 15, 2010 by

Volunteers, or self-seeders, can be a welcome addition to the summer garden; but, sometimes, we just want a particular annual for one season. If that’s the case, here is my short list of unusually persistent annuals that you may want to … Continue reading →

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Garden Trials

Posted on July 9, 2010 by

All gardeners experiment with plants, sometimes foolishly, sometimes cleverly, and other times out of necessity. It’s not as though we’re competing with the botanic gardens, running trials of 25 Campanulas or Phlox over a 5-year period to see which is most … Continue reading →

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Dusty Lavenders

Posted on July 9, 2010 by

My Nepeta faassenii ‘Six Hills Giant’ (Catmint) is beginning to look a little ragged now after its first flush of bloom that began in June. For the rest of the summer it will still maintain its graceful, relaxed habit that is so … Continue reading →

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Plant of the Month: Hemerocallis ‘Hyperion’

Posted on July 7, 2010 by

It seems that almost every daylily either begins or ends its bloom season sometime in July, so what could be more appropriate than naming a daylily July’s Plant of the Month? I admit there was a time when I considered the daylily to be a pedestrian … Continue reading →

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The Works of Rosemary Verey

Posted on July 5, 2010 by

I think every serious gardener should own one book by Rosemary Verey (b.1918-d.2001), or at least borrow one from the local public library once a year. Mrs. Verey was one of the great 20th century plantswomen, and her works include not only many … Continue reading →

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