Welcome to the GVAG Blog

You Read it Here First!

I’m a big fan of ThinkinGardens, the British website edited by Anne Wareham. While the bulk of the posts relate to gardening and gardens in England, posts also cover topics of wider interest. As the website itself says, it’s a website “for people who want more than gardening from gardens.” ThinkinGardens isn’t modest or retiring, and…

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This tree was flowering when we arrived. But it is the only one I

What to see when the flowers aren’t in bloom.

Coming to South Carolina in mid-February, I expected to see daffodils and crocus, maple trees budding out, azaleas and the flowering trees that speak of spring in southern climes. But not this year.         Temperatures have been much lower than normal, so low that ponds have frozen.  It’s only a skim of ice.…

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Camellias are now a mark of southern gardens. They were introduced to America in 1786, at Middleton Place.

Middleton Place: An American Landscape Garden

Middleton Place is described as America’s oldest landscaped garden. Laid out in 1741 with romantic additions dating from the 19th and 20th century, it is a fascinating example of international style with a southern accent.       A bit of history: First settled in the late 17th century, Middleton Place was acquired by Henry Middleton…

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This is how the linden might be looking today. Notice the figure next to it -- he is about 6 ft tall, which gives you an idea of the height of the tree, around 60 ft.

Following a Tree: What’s in a Name?

This year I am following the tree at the end of the big lawn at Glen Villa, my garden in rural Quebec. The botanical name of the  tree is Tilia americana. I call it a linden. That’s not wrong — the tree is a member of the linden family. Like many living things, it goes by several names. In England, it…

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Grassy Garden Paths

Today, when nothing for me but snow and ice is underfoot, I am thinking about garden paths and how they affect the way we move through our gardens. The material used for the path, its width, whether it is straight or curved, whether we can see where it is leading or not — these aspects and more…

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