Arrangement: March

A simple spring green for the month of March. This little vignette is sitting in our parlour on the stone coffee table. It contains two cloches that house two salaginella. They absolutely love the humidity they provide and just thrive there in the bright light.


This is such a great idea for someone who has cats that tend to eat their houseplants. They are protected and just look lovely with the condensation collecting on the inside. Unlike ferns that might need a breath of fresh air, I leave these fern like plants covered only lifting occasionally for the cleaning of the actual cloche.



I added some green covered books, one of my bird sculptures I made, and a tiny hummingbird nest I found to complete the scene. I hope you enjoy this and spring is coming, don't forget!

"Garden Open Today": Daffodil Days

It is that time of year when the Daffodils are beginning to peek through the earth. I have been diligently planting Daffodils or Narcissus here at the M.H. Merchant Stone House now for 3 years and have planted thousands of them. Not only Daffodils but other bulbs such as Muscari, Allium, Scillia, and others.

So the "Garden Open Today" events will be a series of open garden days in which one can personally explore the gardens here and get a little tour.


Daffodil Days will be held on two weekends in April and early May from 1 p.m. till 6 p.m.

April 9th and 10th. Which will feature early Daffodil varieties and minor bulbs.

April 30th and May 1st. Which will feature late blooming varieties and other flowering perennials and shrubs.



Please make note that these dates are firm and depending on the weather you will see many different plants or perhaps none at all. Please feel free to contact me closer to the dates so I can inform you to what is happening in the gardens.

This is an organic experiment I am trying out and would truly love for all of you to make it out here and see the gardens in person as well as shake my hand, say hi, and have a garden chat.


I am also planning a mid-summer and late summer/early fall "Garden Open Today" program. Mid-summer will focus on my Hemerocallis collection as well as other great summer perennials. The late summer session will be geared towards the large gigantic perennials I covet as well as my "on-growing" collection of unusual tropicals. Dates will be announced soon.

I hope to see you all at some point at one of these "Open Garden Today" events.

The First Day of Spring in Cornwallville

It's not the only the first day of spring in Cornwallville, but the first day of spring everywhere, and boy it was a great one. After missing last weekend up at the house and gardens due to some personal commitments I was greeted by the first blooms to lay my eyes on after a long and snowy winter.


The Crocus were popping up, and the ones I planted a few years back in the kitchen landing were blooming like crazy. This variety which is actually a mix called 'Hocus Crocus' never disappoints. I have I.D.'d one of the Crocus with the pale white petals and purple streaks as Crocus 'Pickwick'. I will do a posting on the Crocus here in the near future as there is another variety or two still waiting to bloom. Stay tuned.


I spent the whole day cleaning out beds. Raking, cutting back perennials and planting early spring annuals were the tasks of the day and it was glorious!
To be out again in the gardens felt invigorating and humble at the same time. By 7 p.m. I was still outside working, tired and aching I crawled into the house and fell asleep to awaken to a disappointing spring snow.


Damn! I said to myself. Come-On! I could not believe it. I quickly calmed myself down and took in the situation. I knew that tomorrow would be 45 degrees and the dusting of snow would be long gone. There was so much more to be done but it would just have to wait for another day. The Crocus were still beautiful folded up from the lack of sun and the pansies planted in similar matching tones were perking up through the snow.


Spring is officially here and the time has come for winter to pass as much as Mother Nature sometimes wants to hold onto her seasons. They will always change, season by season, day by day.