Beyond the Museums: The Hidden Beauty of Vatican Gardens
A peaceful glimpse into the Vatican Gardens, captured from the rooftop of St. Peter’s Basilica in 2005. A hidden gem for garden and travel lovers alike. 🌿✈️
Whose Tea Set Was This, Anyway?
When a dusty silver tea set resurfaced, it sparked memories of family, tradition, and the slow process of restoration. Now, as I clean each piece, I’m left wondering: who did this tea set belong to, and how did it end up forgotten in the basement?
Northern Exposure
A look back at a summer visit to the Montreal Botanical Garden during a Perennial Plant Association trip—full of stunning displays and plant inspiration. 🌿
A Yard Full of Memories
Learning the Ropes I went out to mow our yard for the first time last week. As my husband went over all the instructions on how to use the mower, I kept remembering last summer when I thought I would…
Earth Day reminder for Plastic. What Happens on Land doesn’t necessarily Stay on Land.
Plastic tossed on land doesn’t always stay there. This Earth Day, I’m sharing a few personal stories and photos showing how litter travels—from local parks to rivers, and even remote island beaches. ♻️🌍
From the Garden to the Kitchen Sink: A Greener Journey, One Small Change at a Time
After a lifetime of working with plants and soil, I always felt connected to the Earth. But it wasn’t until recently that I started thinking about what I was bringing inside my home. This Earth Day, I’m sharing the small but powerful changes I’ve made to create a healthier space for my family—and why it matters more than ever. 💚
A big Coneflower for your consideration
Looking for a late-summer showstopper that pollinators love and rabbits leave alone? Meet Rudbeckia ‘Herbstsonne’—an old favorite that’s stood the test of time. With bright yellow, drooping petals on 7-foot stems, this coneflower isn’t shy. I first grew it back in 1984 at Behnke’s, and it’s still a standout in my garden today. 💛
The Flower the Deer Forgot: A Tribute to Mom
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 Fern, A Nest, A Home: Carolina Wrens in the Staghorn
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?
Remembering Passchendaele: A Journey Through Belgium’s WWI Battlefields
“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
Monocot vs. Dicot: A Tale of Two Tree Trunks in Tucson
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…