The Gardens Are Open This Weekend

Welcome all to the "Open Garden Today" this weekend April 30th and May 1st from 12:00 to 5:00 p.m. here at the M.H. Merchant Stone House in Cornwallville.


The gardens are all cleaned up, and all the weeding and mulching has begun. Some of the beds have been hit by a herd of deer and I have been battling a chipmunk who has been eating my pansies and beloved Muscari. But all the Daffodils and minor bulbs, which are critter resistant are starting to bloom and are putting on a sweet show.


I hope to see you all this weekend and talk about spring bulbs and gardening!


The Cornwallville Gardens
M.H. Merchant Stone House
459 Strong Road
Cornwallville, New York

Pushkinia, A new favorite

What can I say about Pushkinia. I have never seen this early blooming bulb planted anywhere before. But when I saw a few of them at a big box store (of all places) called Lebanon Squill which actually is an heirloom from 1805. I snatched them up and sunk them into the ground last fall. I only planted about 15, but was I disappointed when they bloomed. I should have planted 150!


They are the most amazing sky blue with a delicate periwinkle stripe that goes down each tiny petal. They look like fluffy muscari that blooms much earlier when the crocus do. Even these photos don't do them justice, you will just have to plant them yourself and see. This summer I will be planting many more as they seem to be critter resistant to boot.



Pushkinia scilloides 'libanotica'
Lebanon Squill
Sun to Shade
Well drained rocky soil
4" to 6" tall
Z 4-8

Arrangement: April

A simple spring arrangement of violas in one of my new moss pots I have been making like crazy. I love the smaller flowers of violas as they are so delicate and sweet. I also revel in the fact that they tend to reseed around where they are planted, so I am not so tedious about dead-heading them as I am with there fellow larger cousin the pansy.



Just look at that face, I can see there little eyes and picture them singing a jolly spring tune.