“First the house, then the garden . . .” seems to be an inescapable truth of home ownership. Some folks pretend that the garden holds greater sway, pride of place or center stage. However, wake them at 3 A.M. with the question which is more important. They’ll confess their sins. When the kitchen, toilet, easy chair and bed find their way into the garden—that will be another… Continue reading

I was recently interviewed by a magazine reporter who decided not to publish the results. We thought our blog readers would find it interesting.
Q: Briefly describe the thought process that went into the closing of thenursery. Why was it done so abruptly?
A: The nursery has been moved to Pennsylvania. It hasn’t closed. Only the display garden is closing for the moment; we hope to… Continue reading

My latest godson recently visited me. One morning while making home versions of McMuffins—little turkey sausages between oat-floured English muffins, with smoked Gouda slices added to one, alfalfa sprouts to another, little 4-year old Henry looked over to me from his chair-chair and asked, “Uncle George, where are the strawberries?” “I have some nice ones,” I replied and my housekeeper having overheard brought a bowl of California types… Continue reading

Claude Hope was my professional mentor. He was pressed into this service while in his 50s by my father with whom he had worked for many years. Claude was one of the founders of the PanAmerican Seed Company, after working in Costa Rica for already nearly two decades. B. Y. Morrison had sent him down there in WWII to grow quinine for anti-malaria medicine and he remained… Continue reading