book cover

October 10, 2008

life on the edge of frost, or indian summer?

Filed Under 'woo-woo' (essays and such), nature | 12 Comments

WE’RE LIVING ON THE EDGE HERE at A Way to Garden, literally: the edge of seasonal change. These two youngsters sat on the lip of one of the water gardens all day yesterday, sunning themselves like it was summer, taking the occasional lap around the pool. They seem to have forgotten we were close to frost two nights this week, since we’ve bounced into what feels like an Indian Summer. Me, too. You?

October 8, 2008

borrowed scenery: of views and viewsheds

Filed Under etcetera, nature | 21 Comments

A “NEIGHBOR” CLOSER TO THE HUDSON RIVER than I am got me thinking recently again about how much our sense of landscape and of gardens depends on “borrowed scenery” that forms our views. Frederic Church depicted his view across the Hudson to the Catskill Mountains in 1871 (shown), a vista not unlike my neighbor’s. What’s your view like, and what’s your view on views? Read more

September 22, 2008

bookends to a great gardening season

Filed Under 'woo-woo' (essays and such), etcetera, nature | 29 Comments

WE OPENED THE SEASON HERE WITH A SALAMANDER, whom I’d fished from the little pool out back while mucking out debris.  Trusty garden helper and small-game handler Susan held him for his portrait, and we both enjoyed the moment (not sure he did), a special kickoff to spring. This week, as we began fall cleanup, another omen: The littlest frogboy ever hijacked a ride indoors.

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August 27, 2008

our first 100-comment post (thank you!)

Filed Under etcetera, nature | 21 Comments

A WAY TO GARDEN turns 5 months old this week, and as if to celebrate it reached a milestone: our first 100-comment post (about equal to the number of frogs who share the place with me). No-no surprise for me that it was the post about Garden No-No’s (aka The Complaint Dept.) that took the prize. Thanks to your generosity, we’re about to record our 3,000th comment over all…who will be the one?