IN JUNE, I like to stop and smell the roses (pictured above is climbing 'New Dawn'). Then I get down and dirty. After all, there are tomato vines to train. And weeds to smother. And spent flowers to deadhead. And potatoes to hill. And...well, just have a look at this list of essential chores: Read more » What To Do When
Garden Chores for June, 2013
May 31, 2013
IN JUNE, I like to stop and smell the roses (pictured above is climbing 'New Dawn'). Then I get down and dirty. After all, there are tomato vines to train. And weeds to smother. And spent flowers to deadhead. And potatoes to hill. And...well, just have a look at this list of essential chores: Read more » Garden Chores for May
April 28, 2013
TAKE A TIP FROM THE NESTING ROBINS -- May isn't the month to snooze! Indeed, garden-work we accomplish now will determine the success we'll have for the rest of the growing season. Need a little guidance? I follow this routine: Read more » April Garden Chores
March 31, 2013
YESTERDAY, while photographing the 'Grand Maitre' crocuses in my Serpentine Garden, I discovered I wasn't alone. Meet the helpful garden-guest I encountered, and then -- when you've finished screaming -- have a look at the month's (plentiful) chores:
Read more » Garden Chores for March
February 28, 2013
SOUND FAMILIAR? In March, the winter aconites (above) emerge in Monday’s warmth…and disappear in Tuesday’s snow. Consequently it pays to proceed with caution these final weeks of winter. Here are the month’s chores, based on my zone Hudson Valley, New York (zone 5-b) location: Read more » Garden Chores for February
February 1, 2013
HERE IN COLD, ZONE 5-B, February brings Valentine's Day...and lots of fun gardening chores. Outdoors, there are seeds to sow ( regardless of the temperature), and certain trees and shrubs to prune. And indoors, there are African violets to propagate, seeds to test, and branches (like crabapple, pictured above) to force into glorious, early bloom: Read more » The (Easy!) December Chores
December 1, 2012
DECEMBER is a big month for decorating, both within and without the house. But it’s also the time to reflect upon the year’s past achievements. Let’s pause each day to enjoy the winter views from our windows, the silhouettes of trees, the colorful birds. And let’s keep most of the work indoors: Read more » Garden Chores for November, 2012
October 31, 2012
MY MANTRA FOR NOVEMBER: "Leave the garden in autumn the way you wish to find it in spring." Every weed pulled and every clean-up operation completed before snow counts against the inevitable April bedlam (and April, at least for me, is always pure bedlam). What to do first? I follow this list of chores:
Read more » 
