Category Archives: Uncategorized

HerbDoc has her own favorite giant coneflower: Here’s another native Rudbeckia that’s stunning if you have a spot for it.  Since it was given to me at a plant swap and had no tag, it took me a while to … Continue reading →

Meet Rudbecki maxima – or giant coneflower. It’s big. It’s bold. It’s in-your-face yellow, and I love it. It’s an American native (to a few western states) with grayish green foliage and tall strong stems. Very tall stems. This is … Continue reading →

Recently, I took a Master Gardener day trip to Boothbay, ME, home of the spectacular Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. The gardens are relatively new, having opened in 2007. They employ the latest and best gardening practices, and they have the … Continue reading →

Yes, we know that squirrels can be annoying garden pests. But HerbDoc has found that bonding with them can be way more fun than chasing them away: Late last January a tiny gray squirrel appeared at the French doors to … Continue reading →

Recently, I wrote  a post about the Rhode Island rose show, in which I ranted – briefly – about the plants’ chemical requirements. I received a comment from rosarian, Angelina Chute, co-author with her husband, Mike, of a  book on … Continue reading →

I recently attended one day of a weekend-long garden tour. This event takes place every two years, and is a major fundraiser for the University of Rhode Island Master Gardeners. This year, 32 gardens were on the tour, most of … Continue reading →

For the past couple of weeks, my yard has been filled with constant twittering. The barn swallows have fledged. Barn swallows (Hirundo rustica) are expert flyers and insect catchers, but they’re not born with those skills. It takes practice to … Continue reading →

Here’s an “herbal how-to” from who else but Herbdoc! Those dried supermarket herbs in the spice aisle can cost a pretty penny, but preserving your own is easy, and in some cases, results in a tastier product than store bought. … Continue reading →

I bought myself a present this week: two  “Blue Chip” Buddleias, or butterfly bushes. I have been planting these in other people’s gardens, and I decided it was time for me to have one or two of my own. Blue … Continue reading →

I  try to remain appropriately skeptical when a publisher sends me a book to review, but I have to admit my interest was piqued when Storey Publishing sent me a copy of “Week-by-Week Vegetable Gardener’s Handbook.” This guide, written by … Continue reading →