Newsletter

The Carefree East Lambrook Manor These words, penned by garden writer Margery Fish, were written in 1966. What has happened to gardening in the intervening time period? Are we still chasing the same idea of “striving for a natural effect”? I think that these same words could easily be written …

Continue Reading about August 2024 Newsletter: The “Oh Well” Approach to Gardening

A Visit to Munstead Wood Earlier this year, I was lucky enough to have the chance to visit Gertrude Jekyll’s house and garden, and meet Katherine Mills, the manager. Her garden is called Munstead Wood. It is located near the town of Godalming, in the southern English county of Surrey. I had …

Continue Reading about July 2024 Newsletter: A Visit to Munstead Wood

Take a Seat This quote from the late great English gardener, Christopher Lloyd, succinctly introduces the topic of garden seating. It is something that is near and dear to my heart. I love seeing where gardeners place their seats and what types they choose. I usually find that gardens do …

Continue Reading about June 2024 Newsletter: Take a Seat

National Native Plant Month This lovely quote is about Sanguinaria canadensis, or bloodroot. I am using this example as one of the plants that is native to my area here in eastern Pennsylvania. I love the way that the author, whose first name is Frances, describes the fragile nature of …

Continue Reading about April 2024 Newsletter: News of Native Plants

In the News: Garden Tours I would like to invite you to both of my Northview Garden Open Days. The April date will be for daffodils and spring ephemerals and the June date will be cool-season annuals and biennials. The tours will take place rain or shine so in the event of rain please wear …

Continue Reading about March 2024 Newsletter: Trees and Budding and Bees are Buzzing

In the News: Garden Toursand Online Lectures I love this February quote from Henry Mitchell about taking time to enjoy your garden rather than thinking of all the things that you should be doing in it. I am not sure what type of pest he is thinking that we become if we are not contemplating …

Continue Reading about February 2024 Newsletter: Sowing the Seeds of Spring

Sowing Seeds of Thought Here we are at the start of another year. 2024—how can that be? In the quest to look forward and not back I am going all out with plans for seed starting. I have always loved growing plants from seeds but now it is an obsession. It is so much cheaper than buying …

Continue Reading about January 2024 Newsletter: Seeding Dreams of Spring

Fences and Hedges—Permeable Barriers The end of the year is rolling around and with it comes thoughts of gardening highs and lows of the past year. I love the way that Canon Ellacombe expresses his thoughts about the garden in December in the quote above. He was the vicar of a small parish …

Continue Reading about December 2023 Newsletter: Murmuring Winter Poetry

Hello Gardening Friends, The chilly winds of November are upon us. What better time to follow the advice of Helen Dillon, the expert gardener quoted above? I know that I will be thinking about this quote as I consider changes to be made here at Northview for next year. What does she mean …

Continue Reading about November 2023 Newsletter: Daydreaming of Romance

Greetings Gardening Friends, I was lucky to be brought up by a mother who was an English teacher and a father who was a botany professor. This has given me a perspective on the natural world that is based on scientific facts but at the same time appreciates the artistic. The quote above …

Continue Reading about October 2023 Newsletter: An Autumn of Poetry and Essays