This week, my stepfather, Joe Festerling, gave me one of my mom’s favorite flowers—a tiny purple violet, or viola as I call them. This little 4″ pot is bursting with about 40 sweet blooms, their deep purple petals contrasting beautifully…
A no fuss birdhouse. This photo was taken at our home in Bethesda on June 29, 2014, through our dining room window. I have a staghorn fern, a tropical plant, that I put outside each summer. I’ve still got it, and…
For Zoe’s 9th birthday, we celebrated her love for nature with a special gift—a ZZ plant! Little did we know, she had already picked out an African violet earlier that day. From planting pansies at her party to planning a vegetable garden with her G.G., Zoe’s green thumb is starting to bloom. Could she be the next gardener in the family?
“In June 2009, my wife and I explored the WWI battlefields of Passchendaele in western Belgium. This historic site, where British Commonwealth and German troops endured unimaginable losses, is a powerful reminder of the war’s impact. We visited Tyne Cot Cemetery, a beautifully maintained resting place for thousands of soldiers, making for a moving and unforgettable experience.” ~ Larry
Every year, there’s a moment when I can feel that spring is really on its way. It’s not just the calendar telling me, it’s the subtle shifts in nature, the little signs that winter is loosening its grip. Right now,…
My wife and I vacationed in Tucson, Arizona a few weeks ago to get away from the Wisconsin winter. While wandering around the parking lot at one of our hotels, I noticed that a couple of trees had been cut…
Ever since Susan Harris shared her visit to the U.S. Botanical Garden’s Orchid Show, I’ve wanted to go. Lucky for me, my cousin Jeanne Behnke Byrnes reached out and suggested we go to celebrate our birthdays—mine in February and hers…
This photo is from 1985, a year after we moved into our Bethesda home, and a year after I planted a “pass-along” plant, a gift from a coworker. He told me it was Marsh Marigold, and that’s also what I…
Discover the World of Orchids February 17, 2023 – April 30, 2023 United States Botanic Garden Conservatory The United States Botanic Garden—yet another place I’ve never been. How can that be? With this exhibit, I’m hoping to make it there finally. I’ve…
Anyone can grow tropical plants indoors, you just need to be aware of the plant’s needs. Some are easier than others. I’ve never been able to successfully grown weeping figs or fiddleleaf figs in the house. They are, after all, large-growing trees that…
Did You Watch The Super Bowl? Like many, last Sunday, we had the Super Bowl on in our house. And yes, my team won. If the Ravens could not be in it this year, I decided to go for another…
I hope you have had a chance to visit one of the orchid shows around your area this winter. They are always a nice change from the cold, and bring thoughts of tropical travels. So many kinds and colors! You…