Newsletter

The Zinnia's Revenge I love this quote because it shows that garden writers are humans too. We have our loves and hates just like everyone else! Henry was not a fan of zinnias, but I love them! He carries on writing, “This is when zinnias—and also marigolds, petunias, bedding begonias, …

Continue Reading about August 2025 Newsletter: Hot Off The Press My New Bulb Book

Colorific Collections How true is our quote from two accomplished gardeners, Nori and Sandra Pope (see book review below). Color in our gardens seems to be an endless source of fascination and confusion. Are there trends that we are meant to be following? Does this flower come in other colors? …

Continue Reading about July 2025 Newsletter: The Confounding Colors of Azaleas and Gladioli

Roses by Every Name Those of you who have read a few of these newsletters will know that I love gardening books that are organized by months or seasons. I love being able to dip into them and see the garden through the eyes of the author. What did they love at this time of year? Do I love the …

Continue Reading about June 2025 Newsletter: Roses by Every Name

May Is Here! As John Forti so wisely reminds us, it is a time for celebrations. The weather is finally warming up in the temperate zones of the Northern hemisphere. May in my garden brings lushness. The aura of fresh greenness prevails. The light takes on a different quality. Days are longer …

Continue Reading about May 2025 Newsletter: Have A Gardening Question For Me

I love this quote from a beautiful new book by Marina Schinz (see review below). I also love weeding. I agree that weeding can be mindless in some ways, but it also requires your brain to decide to pull one plant while leaving another. Weeding is an editing process that affects your future garden in …

Continue Reading about April 2025 Newsletter: Pondering Your Garden

Month of Promises March is the month of promises. The plants are declaring their intentions to grow. “All will be well,” I repeat to myself, “The plants are telling me so. They will keep their promises.” I always think of March as the beginning of the year here at Northview. It has many more …

Continue Reading about March 2025 Newsletter:  The Promises of My Garden

Discovering Wint-pring The quote this month is by Vita Sackville-West, the owner and creator of the famous garden, called Sissinghurst, in the English county of Kent. The quote is from this wonderful anthology and commentary by her granddaughter-in-law, Sarah Raven, the well-known flower grower …

Continue Reading about February 2025 Newsletter: Finding Delight in Wint-pring

To Plant or Not to Plant As another year rolls around, it is a good time for reflection about past gardens and planning those that are to come. On my desk, as I write, are lists with headings that read “must grow these again” and “waste of bed space—do not buy this again.” This last one is a …

Continue Reading about January 2025 Newsletter: Scent in the Winter Garden