Lois de Vries' Garden Views

Last weekend I attended a Garden Writers of America regional meeting at NYU Medical Center’s Enid Haupt Glass Garden at the Rusk Institute for Rehabilitation. Director Nancy Chambers (top photo) presented the keynote on the hospital’s horticultural therapy program. The Glass Garden (greenhouse) offers year-round programs for the hospital’s patients as well as the general public. The horticultural therapy classes are designed to be restorative and support the work of the hospital’s physical or occupational therapy programs. Established in 1959, the 1,700 square foot conservatory is a tropical oasis with plant collections that include an aquatic garden, orchids, ferns, palms, bromeliads, succulents, caudate, and insectivorous plants. A true botanic garden, it includes plants from around the world to provide international visitors with a glimpse of “home.” Koi, goldfish, turtles, and catfish inhabit the pond; parrots, finches, canaries, and doves impart soothing sounds. A tuxedo cat gr...

The gardening season unofficially launched in the Northeast this week, with temps predicted to swell to near 70º on Saturday. The (really hot) sunshine has brought out the best of my very early bloomers: Snowdrops, purple hybrid and yellow species crocus, Winter Aconite, Christmas Rose, and Lenten Rose. I was surprised to also see some of the Hydrangea leaf buds bursting out of their brown, scaly shells, as well as early growth from Wood Hyacinth. Before we know it, our spring gardens will be three steps ahead of us as usual. With cabin fever behind us and spring fever before us, you may want to take a few moments to think about what internal fulfillment your garden can give back to you this growing season, beyond the mere enjoyment of the garden’s physical beauty. I’ve written about how to approach this before at http://loisdevries.blogspot.com/search/label/The%20Transformational%20Power%20of%20Gardening and http://cultivatingtheinnergardener.blogspot.com . At the end of th...

Donna Dawson over at Gardening Tours tells me that there are only a couple of weeks left to sign up for the fabulous Blooms of Bressingham Celebration of English Gardens tour. Bookings close April 3rd. While the tour is designed primarily for garden writers and horticultural professionals, all hort-heads are welcome. In addition to the 16 acres of perennial gardens of Alan and Adrian Bloom, the tour takes you to seven other not-to-be-missed classic English gardens and includes a full day at the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show. For complete details, click on over to Donna’s site at http://www.gardeningtours.com/Blooms2010.htm .

I’ll be speaking on Cultivating the Inner Gardener: Gardening for Personal Growth (http://cultivatingtheinnergardener.blogspot.com ) on March 12, 2010 at 3:30pm, at this year’s Springfest Flower and Garden Show in Augusta, NJ at the Sussex County Fairgrounds (http://bit.ly/a6W29O) . Come by and say “hello” if you’re in the area. As the flower and garden show season swings into high gear, garden enthusiasts everywhere are itching to see demonstration gardens in full bloom and to spend some of their hard-earned money on unusual ornaments and colorful plants. To get the most from your visit, plan ahead. 1. Comfortably cushioned flat shoes are a must, since most shows take place in structures that have concrete floors, which quickly take their toll. Some demonstration gardens will have flagstone or boardwalk-style paths that make for uneven walking, or may catch narrow heels. 2. Think about your main reason for going to the show and do that first. I used to go to one show just to pur...