Author Archives: talesofanashvillegardener

Not five minutes after I posted a photo of the Great Blue Heron I looked out the window. He was back- within 3 feet of the platform birdfeeder. He was frozen in strike position, eyeing two oblivious gray squirrels on the ground. When I banged on the door, he flew up to the lawn byContinue reading “Return of the Great Blue Stalker”

Heavy rain over the last few days has made the river rise and Gregg Mill Pond swell. The fish must be too deep, and fishing too hazardous, for after I filled the courtyard bird feeders this morning, and the squirrel and chipmunk mob came running, this hunter came stalking into the yard. Perhaps he thoughtContinue reading “Something Astonishing”

Above is the Japanese Spurflower- Isodon effusus, along with Fuschia “Gartenmeister” and Plectranthus “Longwood Silver”. In the South the gardening year never ends. Seedling Bachelor’s Buttons, Larkspur germinate in fall. Rarely does snow cover them. There are myriad berries, spears of the coming daffodils, and in February one finds the leaves of Spring Beauties. ButContinue reading “The End of the Gardening Year 2021”

This is the Franklin Tree-Franklinia alatamaha, found in Georgia by the Bartrams centuries ago, and since then, never found again in the wild. It lives in captivity now, rare and hard to grow. This one pictured is in the Heritage Gardens on Cape Cod. I had never seen one before. Seeing it was like seeingContinue reading “A Unicorn Tree”

Heritage Gardens in Sandwich, Mass. has a riveting collection of hydrangeas of all persuasions- from blue mopheads to lace caps to paniculatas, and to exotics I did not know existed. Even in early October there were blooms to see. My sister and I were in Eastham for a week, just south of Coast Guard BeachContinue reading “The Hydrangea Trial Gardens at Heritage Gardens on Cape Cod”

Aster Cordifolius, the “Heart- leaved aster”, is blooming now. Along partly shaded roads. In the verge behind the Sully’s grocery in Goffstown. In old cemeteries. My sister’s garden in Bow has it foaming over the hostas in her front yard. I have it here in New Boston, though the relentless, repeated attacks by the woodchucksContinue reading “Heart-Leaved Aster”

The strange seedpod I photographed for my posting on The Fells visit belongs to the Japanese Woodland Peony. No one at The Fells replied to my query, but as I went searching through Ruth Clausen’s “Essential Perennials” I saw the seed pod pictured.

Asters in the main border. View from the “Old Garden”. View of Lake Sunapee from the garden. A strange and beautiful mystery plant. I have emailed The Fells website asking about this plant, but have yet to hear from them. The heather garden. Rodgersia in a damp spot. Fall alliums.

Here are photos from yesterday’s day trip to Newbury, NH, and the estate of John Hay, Theodore Roosevelt’s Secretary of State. Since my camera’s memory card overloaded I will post photos my sister took on her camera phone as soon as she sends them to me. The above photo shows the Bristly aster blooming inContinue reading “A Visit to The Fells, Historic Garden on Lake Sunapee. September 12, 2021”