"Show me your garden," said the British poet laureate of a century ago, "and I shall tell you who you are." If Alfred Austin's premise is true, then I am the kind of person who thinks big (to a fault!), but is happily weary, and whose nails shall never come clean again. Yes, I'm "ready" to show you my garden at next Saturday's Open Day tours, but meantime, some of my current fascinations:
lichen moths: bright, beautiful, bizarre It was 90-something out, but the lichen patterning on one patio stone looked like snowflakes, and I took a photo. I had just shot another, of an unknown insect. I read up and found I'd met my first lichen moth within hours of taking that "snowflake" image. I knew right away who to ask about the moth: the co-author of the "Peterson Guide to Moths of Northeastern North America." Learn why these specialized moths paint themselves in flame colors, for instance, and how they have become expert "poop flingers" (I kid you not!) -- and maybe win a copy of a favorite guidebook I turn to all summer. size-xl bloomers: tall thalictrum, silverleaf sunflower The tall things are having their day: giant Miscanthus; tall perennials such as Thalictrum (top photo), and annual sunflowers like the wonderful silver-leaf form. Do you grow these high-summer stars? 
open day saturday: plants, people...and chairs! At my open garden days, I get a lot of plant questions -- no surprise there. I also get a lot of chair questions, as in, "Where can I get those?" because of several pairs of Wave Hill-inspired chairs around the yard. The answer: My woodworking neighbor makes them from cedar. He'll join the local festivities Saturday, when besides visiting (and testing me or two guest experts with your questions) you can shop for garden chairs, for unusual plants from Broken Arrow Nursery, and more. Now about those great chairs and plants... |
