A Luddite’s Paradise
Loren Zeldin doesn’t have a computer or a cell phone or even a camera. But he does have a garden, which is the focus of his...
Category Archives: Philosophy
What is Landscaping Supposed to Do?
“Could you explain what landscaping is supposed to do?” Kathryn Rostant of Mission Hills asks. “Could you generalize on what you think a nice front yard should look like in this hot...
Memorable Moments of Horticultural Discovery
The memorable moments in a person’s life may be few, but among them, without a doubt, are those moments of horticultural discovery. I remember the first time I saw a princess flower (Tibouchina...
Adam Bearson, Philosopher-Gardener
As I got out of my car, a strong smell of curry greeted me from the front yard of Adam Bearson, philosopher-gardener extraordinaire. I traced the aroma to a busy, silver-leafed plant in the daisy fam...
Prior to Diagnosis, Get to Know Your Plants
When I first began to study horticulture, I took a class where the instructor walked us through campus examining plants for insect, disease and mineral deficiency problems. On one of these walks, a s...
Curing Plant Problems by Discovering Their Causes
A reader tells me this column doesn’t give enough practical information on killing bugs. In most cases, people who garden for more than a few years – as long as they have minimal curiosit...
Cain was a Farmer with a Big Ego
Even before he killed Abel, Cain was in trouble. Cain was a farmer – which was admirable, of course – but he was arrogant. Cain thought he alone was responsible for the growth of his crop...
Gardening is Therapy, Especially After 45 Years
After traveling to the four corners of the Earth and having many adventures, Candide, the hero of Voltaire’s novel, retires to a country house to pursue the pleasures of tending a garden. A rec...
Professional Gardeners Have Little Time to Garden
There is a person – other than your spouse – with whom you have a love- hate relationship. He comes to your house, apartment building or condominium complex once a week. He makes noise. H...
The Secret to Growing Perfect Plants
If, before visiting Louise Olson’s private home and garden, you were not a plant lover, you would, in all likelihood, become a plant lover before your visit was over. Olson, retired from a career in ...
