To celebrate the release of their new book Indoor Plant Decor, co-authors Jenny Peterson and Kylee Baumle are having an online celebration via GGW and several other garden blogs. GGW’s door prize is a $25 gift certificate to Logee’s, a mail-order source of rare and unusual plants. The photo above shows the book on my own kitchen windowsill. Continue Reading →
The disappearance of a major natural unit of vegetation from the face of the earth is an event worthy of causing pause and consideration by any nation. Yet so gradually has the prairie been conquered by the breaking plow, the tractor, and the overcrowded herds of man…that scant attention has been given to the significance of this endless grassland or the course of its destruction. Civilized man is destroying a masterpiece of nature without recording for posterity that which he has destroyed. John Ernest Weaver, North American Prairie (1954)
How many of you grew up watching ‘Little House on the Prairie’ or reading Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House series of books? The North American prairie is as American as apple pie and is an important part of our heritage.
Photo courtesy of Saxon Holt/Photobotanic
Description of Photo – Fragrant Blue giant hyssop or Anise hyssop (Agastache foeniculum) and Gray-headed Coneflower, Pinnate Prairie Coneflower, (Ratibida pinnata) native perennials flowering in Crow-Hassan Park, prairie reserve.
With the publication of Piet’s latest book in collaboration with Noel Kingsbury, Planting: A New Perspective, I thought it worth re-visiting a 3 Part Interview about Piet that I wrote in 2009. Fran Sorin
When I first saw Piet Oudolf’s work several years ago, it startled and provoked me. Since that time, I’ve bought every book that he has written, and I return to them time and time again for inspiration and his unique understanding of plants. So, when planning a trip to Holland last spring, I was hopeful that I’d be able to visit Piet and his gardens and interview him. Continue Reading →
I’ve been following the growth of Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds Catalog for years. When ordering from them this year, I read about Jere Gettle, the founder, and in a split second knew that I wanted to interview him. He’s an innovator and visionary in the world of gardening. Fran Sorin
1. You planted your first garden at age 3. Do you come from a gardening lineage?
My great uncle was one of the first organic farmers in California. Many family members were market gardeners over the years. I remember planting with both my parents and grandparents in their large gardens.
2. How does a 3 year old go about planting a garden?
I started by tagging along with parents and grandparents as they worked in their gardens. When I began poking my own seeds into the ground, excitement and amazement grew along with the plants as I watched the flowers and fruits that came from those seeds.
When I began learning about garden design, I became intrigued with paths – no – make that obsessed. Maybe it dates back to my childhood memories of The Wizard of Oz. Who doesn’t remember when Dorothy reaches a crossroads on her journey to the Wizard and is confused about which way to go ~ and how the talking tree chimes in with his opinion?
Fran Sorin Garden – top level in backyard
Fran Sorin Garden- Front Pathway
The dictionary describes a path as:
~ a way beaten, formed, or trodden by the feet of persons or animals.
~ a narrow walk or way: a path through a garden; a bicycle path.
~ a route, course, or track along which something moves: the path of a hurricane.4.
Paths are a lot more than that. They can create a sense of mystery. Or a feeling of excitement, anticipation and fear ~ even a journey into the unknown. And when it comes to garden making, without well laid out paths, our gardens are chaotic.
