I rarely go to nurseries anymore since I work part-time at one and another reason being that I don't have much room for additional plants. When a garden fanatic runs out of room, the brain goes into overdrive, dreaming up ingenious ways to incorporate more plants. And another thing happens - a burning desire to obtain rare and unique plants. I've been moving plants around, a tricky process that has a domino effect. A plant is unhappy - it is getting too much shade or perhaps too much sun. There is a plant that did not get as large as you thought it would or it is just a slow grower and no ..read more

Heathers  (Calluna vulgaris 'Firefly' and 'Multicolor') I believe it is a given that if you leave home for a lengthy period of time, the weather is going to be clear and mild while you are away. And as soon as you get back home, the cold and rainy weather will proceed.  This morning, after a week of rain, I woke up to sunshine. Michael informed me that it was going to be dry until later in the evening. I had planned to stay home today since we are expecting deliveries. Our old refrigerator that we were using in the garage bit the dust last week. It was valuable for ..read more

Camellia 'Magnoliaflora' and Pieris 'Valley Rose' Buds are budding, flowers are emerging, and the garden is getting greener. Excitement builds! It seems like it is all happening too soon and that is probably the case since the winter has been so mild. There are also mutterings about a "false spring" which is certainly understandable. It is not uncommon here to get a big snow in April. It has happened many times since we've lived here.  Proceed with caution... I would not dream of putting any delicate plants out yet so they will remain in the garage. However, there is a flurry ..read more

Late February to early March is the time for the major pruning of roses. Back in December, I did a preliminary pruning, now is the time for the last major pruning before the spring season begins.  First, a comment on hybrid tea roses. This is what most people have in their gardens. I only have a few hybrid tea roses. These are the roses that need the most drastic pruning. Basically, you cut all the canes down to about 1 foot, making the cuts right above an outward-facing bud. The result will be something like this -  Most of my roses fall into the shrub and climbing catego ..read more

We woke up to around 4 inches of snow today. We already had a dusting from yesterday. If I am not mistaken, we've had at least one big snowfall every winter since we've lived here. They usually occur in January or February but sometimes as late as April. Here are the obligatory photos. Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy ..read more

I am re-sharing this post that I did 15 years ago. This is a good one for Valentine's Day, especially if you are snowed in like we are! Why are they called buckeye balls? Because they look just like the nuts of the Ohio Buckeye Tree (Aesculus glabra). Some people just call them "peanut butter balls" which is basically what they are. All you need to make them are these 4 ingredients: 1 1/2 cups creamy peanut butter 1/2 cup butter (1 stick), softened 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 3-4 cups sifted confectioners sugar (If you prefer them less sweet, use 3 cups) Line a baking sheet with wax ..read more

I mentioned in my last post that I came across several books that I had not read before while I was reorganizing my library.  One of them was a tiny volume titled "The Gardener's Year" by Czechoslovakian writer Karel Capek. I cannot remember where I found the book but I was vaguely familiar with it. It is considered a classic in horticulture literature.  Before I get to the book, I wanted to share some information about the author. Karel Capek (1890-1938) was a writer, playwright, critic and journalist. His works cover a wide variety of genres, but he was best known for his p ..read more

So I have a lot of books. Before we moved to Washington state in 2016 from Alabama, I had even more but I got rid of most of my library with the exception of my gardening books. I also have quite a number of film history and biographies which you cannot see in the photo. The main unit, front and center, is the bulk of my gardening library, which consists of around 325 titles. To the left is my collection of "The Secret Garden" editions and a half-hearted collection of Ruth Rendell & PD James novels. And the books along the top are miscellaneous titles and ones that I'm in the process o ..read more

Woke up to 27 degrees and a heavy frost. It has turned out to be a pretty sunny day with a high of 45. Except for stepping out briefly to get some shots, I've not been motivated to go out. Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy ..read more

Rosmarinus officinalis 'Foxtail', the Foxtail Rosemary makes a graceful statement as it cascades over the edge of a terraced bed. This is the only rosemary in the garden since the trailing variety that I had for years was damaged so badly last winter that I took it out. 'Irene' is the rosemary that is no longer with us and I miss seeing it trail down the retaining wall next to the driveway.  I would replace it but another trailer, cotoneaster, is competing heavily for space there.  Rosemary 'Irene' in happier times I have not planted any of the upright rosemary types ..read more