Camellias At Dusk In A Chinese Garden
by Ketzel Levine
If it isn't already on your radar for the trip you will inevitably take to my fair city, Portland, OR. (enough about theirs), do not choose between this and fill-i
Private Gardens
Talking Plants Blog posts about Private Gardens
What Happened to November?
by Ketzel Levine
I know it's amusing when death takes a holiday (see: movies, books, musicals, The Sopranos, etc), but infinitely less popular when a blogger does the same. And I didn't even go anywhere, at least not physically, though I do remember enjoying mysel...
WHO? White House Organics, That's W.H.O.
by Ketzel Levine
The chorus is growing louder and louder to get our President-elect to convert a few acres of the White House lawn into a productive organic farm.
©2013 NPR
Great American Garden Survives Santa Barbara Fires
by Ketzel Levine
When the Santa Barbara fire began last week in the community of Montecito, I thought of two people: T.C.Boyle and Ganna Walska.
Welcome To Candyland: Portland's Platt Garden
by Ketzel Levine
It's a candyland of yellow, purple, red, blue and silver foliage at one of Portland's oldest and botanically best private gardens.
An Autumnal Peek At A Great American Garden
by Ketzel Levine
The campaign promises are over; now to deliver the sublime, as we throw open the gates of a private Portland garden on the headiest day of American democracy we are ever likely to know.
Wonder What To Do With Your Fab Fall Photos?
by Ketzel Levine
Talking Plants has amassed an online gallery of gorgeous fall photographs and is sending out an all-comers welcome invitation to come see and share.
Look What's Rocking At Versailles
by Ketzel Levine
Among the Jeff Koons works now on view at Versaille is a whacko floral fantasy that could have sprung whole from the head of Louis XIV.
Flower Phobia Cured By Fall Color
by Ketzel Levine
Like passion in a relationship, flowers in a garden are unpredictable. Which is why I've tended to avoid them. But my fall flowers are so hot, I'm rethinking my vow of chastity.
300 Downed Trees And Counting
by Ketzel Levine
The good news is that all of the Houston Arboretum's staff is safe and sound after Hurricane Ike. The inspiring news is that volunteers armed with gloves, tools and tons of good will are helping clean up debris.
Cat, Roof, Neighbor, Ladder, Labor Day
by Ketzel Levine
It's 5:30 am Labor Day morning and I hear Lulah crying. Which is odd, because I let her out at 4:30am and left the door open for her return. The crying continues so I get out of bed and check all exits/entrances. No Lulah, more crying. It takes me...
Xeriscaping Still Gets Bad Rap
by Ketzel Levine
Yet again, the art of landscaping with minimal watering takes a hit. In a lushly photographed New York Times article with the yummy title, A Sustainability That Aims To Se
Mr. American Horticulture Redux
by Ketzel Levine
Before I overwhelm you with the deep purple and mandarin orange of the promised bromeliad in Dan Hinkley's garden, let me show you how he uses more accessible
Mr. American Horticulture
by Ketzel Levine
No doubt there are a whole lot of crowns he'd rather wear — a whole lot of sequined costumes, too — but once you've won most of the awards in your field plus won over all the people, not one of whom (damn it all) has an unadoring thing to
Get 'Em While They Last
by Ketzel Levine
Three years ago, a formidable nonegenarian named Hortense Miller — vegetarian, environmentalist and early feminist — discussed her longevity with a reporter: "Well, there's an end to everything. Good God, I'm 96 years old. I ought to die. And I ...
