Author Archives: dirtynailz

I recently had the pleasure of taking a day trip with fellow Master Gardeners to the New York Botanical Garden. The above photo of a hollyhock was taken inside the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory. This post will be short on … Continue reading →

Here’s HerbDoc with a new/old garden favorite: Here is a rose I highly recommend to anyone who wants a sustainable climber.  Its name is Zepherine Drouhin and it’s an antique rose introduced in 1868.  There are three in my yard … Continue reading →

Digging RI recently celebrated its third anniversary. I have returned to work full time, and keeping this blog fresh  has not always been easy. Thanks to Auntie Beak and HerbDoc for their consistently interesting and wise contributions, and a big … Continue reading →

Whenever I travel, I try to take a few good walks. It’s the best way to see how people live – and of course, for a gardener, what they are growing. First, though, here’s a gratuitous shot of the Richelieu … Continue reading →

I have just returned from another trip to Quebec. I stayed for a couple of days with my aunt and uncle in Mont St. Hilaire, southeast of the city. The crucifix is a common site on roads throughout Quebec, which, … Continue reading →

Another ritual of spring for me is a visit to historic Casey Farm in North Kingstown, RI. I went for their annual plant sale, and bought some tomato, eggplant and basil seedlings. We got there before they even opened, and … Continue reading →

My own mother (may she rest in peace) never believed in Mother’s Day. She was a pleasantly cynical woman, who believed the whole thing had been dreamed up by a greeting card company as a way to sell more cards. … Continue reading →

We took another one of our drives recently, and this time, we wanted to visit Shelburne Falls in the Berkshires. For those of you who do not live in New England, the Berkshires are gentle mountains in eastern Massachusetts. This … Continue reading →

Rather than lull you into a stupor with another of my rants, I will give you a break. This post is all about images – photos I have taken but have not used in any posts. I think they deserve … Continue reading →

HerbDoc has a cautionary tale for lovers of trees: I suppose it’s a lesson to all of us that we should be planting sustainable plants and trees in our yards, but I can’t I can’t help but feel badly about … Continue reading →