"The beautiful spring came; and when Nature resumes her loveliness, the human soul is apt to revive also." --Harriet Ann Jacobs My soul is revived on this Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day. Many plants are blooming early this year, but looking back my pictures look remarkably similar to previous years. Comparing years is what is special about this meme. Thank you, Carol. Take a walk with me and see the miracle that is spring in my cottage garden again. The cherry tree is in full bloom today. Snow Fountain Weeping Cherry Prunus x 'Snofozam' We opened the pond. Robert is making some repairs ..read more

It's the first full day of spring, and I started 400 zinnia seeds under lights in my dining room today. I took a quick stroll around my gardens. Compared with gardeners south of here, I have few blooms. I appreciate the infrequent ones I find: crocus, hellebore, and (today) Pulmonaria's pretty pink and blue flowers. I have considerably more snowdrops this year -- thanks to Frank of Sorta Like Suburbia. Daffodil tips are appearing everywhere, and even a few tulips. Spring will be fabulous when it ultimately arrives at Astolat. Garden planning is well underway for the new gardening year. I bega ..read more

  They still need to dismantle the Christmas Tree in the Rockefeller Center, New York, so there must be time for one more Christmas post. It's become a tradition for Duane and me to go to Longwood Gardens for their Christmas event. This season we went just a few days before the display ended; Jonathan accompanied us. It was spectacular. As always, my iPhone photographs don't do justice. The article, The Art Behind the Lights, is on Longwood Garden's blog for great pictures and an exciting read. You can see the Rose Arbor lantern there. How could I stand and admire it ..read more

Smokebush (Cotinus coggygria)   This fall was the most beautiful in many years. The colors were amazing. Then we had several early frosts that ended the glory, followed by Indian Summer in November. I took the photos in this posting during the warm weather. Somehow, I'm late completing my fall tasks. I need to make a list. It's been a while since I reminded myself and you of the jobs necessary before winter. As the garden and I mature, there are a few changes: 1. Pull Out Annuals and Diseased Plants After the first killing frost, pull out annuals and plant debris from the ki ..read more

For many years, on incalculable trips along Route 33 to the Lehigh Valley, I passed the Hercules Cement Company plant at Stockertown, PA. A fellow gardener told me about a tour of a meadow project next to the plant. Being a lover of meadows, I went along with my husband on what promised to be an interesting outing. We were not expecting the tour to be so informative and inspiring, as well as a relaxing way to enjoy a sunny Pennsylvania fall afternoon.  The plant, owned by Buzzi Unicem USA, is on a 700-acre site containing meadowland, forestland, fruit and chestnut trees, a creek, and a ..read more

Queen Elizabeth II was in residence when Jonathan and I visited Windsor Castle this summer. We knew this because the Royal Standard, the Queen's flag, was flying. Of course, we didn't see her, although we peered over the fence surrounding the state apartments, hoping she would make an appearance. Knowing that she was nearby, however, gave me a warm feeling. As an expatriate, I clearly remember her father's death and funeral when I was 11. A few weeks before the new Queen's coronation, our teacher called each student to his desk and gave us a commemorative book and coin. That was my last year ..read more

 Join me for a live-streamed program: The Healing Garden Wednesday, August 31 Time 7:00 - 9:00 CST The program will be recorded so you can watch it later if this time isn't convenient for you. Registration For more information click the Registration link above.   My recent visit to Monet's Garden in Giverny was a source of inspiration for my upcoming talk on healing gardens. Monet suffered depression and mood swings. He said, "Many people think I paint easily, but it is not an easy thing to be an artist. I often suffer tortures when I paint." Today, most of us are dealing with stres ..read more

My husband, Duane, met me at the airport when I arrived in New York from my wonderful Grandmother/Grandson's trip to London and Paris. I felt some trepidation as we drove home, wondering how my gardens had fared in my absence. I need not have worried. Duane had done an outstanding job watering and maintaining them. My biggest surprise was the abundance of flowers in the meadow (above.) Newly installed this spring with the gazebo Duane found on FB marketplace, the meadow garden exceeded all my expectations. In a future blog posting, I will tell you how I created it. For now, enjoy the picture ..read more

    The day before the bomb cyclone that brought snow and strong winds, we went to the Lehigh Valley Flower Show in search of spring. Pansies, daffodils, tulips, and other spring bulbs were displayed everywhere. They did the trick, putting me in a lighter mood. As an unexpected bonus, we met several garden-club friends. We hadn't seen them for a while so it was great to catch up on our spring gardening plans. Duane and I made several purchases, of course. I picked out some flowering bulbs, Duane found a birdhouse he liked, and we bought a couple of bottles of wine at a local vineyard ..read more

  I took a walk around the garden yesterday, although the temperature was 19°F (-7°C). I wanted to take pictures for Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day. I'm sorry to say that this first Bloom Day post for several months contains no actual blooms. Birds are 'blooming' around the bird feeder, Brussel sprouts are thriving in the cold frame, and I did find one hellebore bud in the Serenity Garden. But there are no flowers to be seen on these frigidly cold February days. I'm in desperate need of snowdrops, crocuses, and daffodils but spring is NOT in the air in the Pocono Mountains. We have scheduled ..read more