Awakening in the Garden

The new growth of daffodils peaking out of the soil and the fledgling flowers of the Helleborus unfurling towards the sky are such clichés that I bear much pain to write about them.  But while they are overused seasonal metaphors there can be no denying that their...

Bittersweet of Autumn

The Bittersweet Season of Autumn Is there a more perfect plant than the American Bittersweet (Celastrus scandens) to symbolize autumn? This native North American vine spends the growing season twining its way through branches of trees and shrubs and along fences until...

Not Looking for “Just a Buyer”

Boy, it has been a week. On Monday, we met with our real estate to sign the papers to list our beloved octagon barn for sale. I called my staff to let them know:  one sounded thrilled for me; the other sounded uncertain. Tuesday, the For Sale sign went up. In front of...