My gooseberry varieties

GOOD GERMS

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Germs are not always bad, the word generally signifying that which gives rise to life. I’ve had a few germplasm collections here on the farmden, also not a bad thing if you can take care of it all. In my latest blog post we immerse ourselves in germplasm, mine and others. And no one ends up sneezing of coughing. Read about it here:
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Apricot orchard n bloom

HEY BUD

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Winter is a good time for looking at buds. Wh-a-a-a-? But wait! Buds can tell you some things about the plants to which they’re attached, and they can have a subtle beauty. If you’re a fruit or flower grower, they can predict the future for the coming months. No more. I delve into buds in my latest blog post: 
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Bonsai at 12 years old

TINY TREES

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For a miniature landscape on your windowsill, try bonsai. It's not that difficult. In this blog post, I describe how to start and maintain a bonsai, with photos and description of some details of the genesis and evolution of my own little weeping fig growing in a miniature field of moss. Read about it here:
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My favorite bark. Can you guess what it is?

CAT NIPPING, NOT SO GOOD

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Cats and houseplants can be a bad mix. Or worse. But there are workarounds to a peaceful coexistence. Read about why the cat-houseplant mix is bad, and workarounds, in my latest blog post.
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Shipova fruit

SORBUS’ WORTHY OF ATTENTION

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Mountainash isn't, in my opinion, a good name for an ornamental or an edible plant. No matter, the genus Sorbs has plenty of beauties and a few tastes. Let's take a quick romp through the standouts. Perhaps you'll want one n your backyard. Here's the scoop on them:
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Old olive tree in Spain

O OLIVE TREE, O OLIVE TREE, HOW LOVELY ARE . . .

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An olive tree for the holiday season (and beyond)? Why? And how, up here in New York’s Hudson Valley, at least, where winter temperatures typically plummet below zero degrees Fahrenheit. Read more at:
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Laying down or burying fig for winter

INTERMENT, BUT NOT DEATH

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I buried two fig trees a few days ago and hope they’ll be happy and healthy. Happy and healthy, buried!? I explain why I do it, and how in my latest blog post.
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Mowings from hayfield

MUCKRAKING, THE GOOD KIND

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Muckraking is a good thing — in the garden. That is, if you know what muck is in the world of gardening. Read about the what, the why, and the how of muckraking in my latest blog post:
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My favorite bark. Can you guess what it is?

WOOF, WOOF, BUT NOT A DOG

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Spring's showy flowers are long gone, even fall's fiery leaves have mostly floated to the ground. What's left? Bark! In my latest blog post, I highlight in photos and words some trees and shrubs that now come into their own, presenting colors and textures worth a second look . . . and a third look and . . . , actually, a look all fall and winter.
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