Support Your Local Farm: The Village Tree Farm in Green Village, NJ

Why did it take me so long to find The Village Tree Farm on Meyersville Road in Green Village, NJ? It's a family-run Christmas tree farm just a few minutes from my home and we had a wonderful afternoon picking out our tree. In addition to getting a great tree, we also got to admire their beautiful, Amish-constructed barn, built in 2004.

www.villagechristmastreefarm.com

NYTimes: A Story about Gardening into your Seventies

"Page Dickey spent 30 years building the perfect garden. Now that she and her husband are in their 70s, cutting back is more of a priority." -Anne Raver, New York Times

Where have I been?

It's been months since my last post. We had a baby, decided to move, sold our house and bought a new one. To say the least, it's been busy. This gardening season, I'm trying to both pot up and/or take divisions of my rare plants as well as plan the new garden. I intend to write more about all of the above when I have more time.

The First Bloom of the New Year - Pink and White Amaryllis

Telegraph.co.uk: Great Dixter after Christopher Lloyd

After Chrstopher Lloyd died in 2006, "many at that point wondered what would happen to his celebrated garden, Great Dixter." There is a fascinating story here by Tim Richardson about how Fergus Garrett maintain's "Great Dixter's spirit of originality."

What's the secret? "The key to the garden's originality and verve is partly due to the working method laid down by Christo. This consisted of a daily perambulation around the garden which lasted about an hour, during which time Christo and Fergus would make perhaps 60 decisions, small and large. About half of them were to be dealt with immediately, the rest stored up for the right seasonal moment. 'Everything was looked at and carefully considered,' Fergus says. 'We asked: is it worth it? Does it grow well? Does it stand on its own?'"

Telegraph.co.uk: Garden of the Year photography competition

I love English gardens. Check out the stunning photos of these fabulous English gardens here, including: Burton Agnes Hall, Ilford Manor, Borde Hill Gardens, Houghton Hall, Mellerstain House, Athelhampton, Arley Hall, Exbury Gardens, Kiftsgate Court and Parham Park.

End of Season Roses: Fairy near the back steps

End of Season Roses: Star of the Republic in the Triangle Garden

End of Season Clematis: Arabella in the Cutting Garden

End of Season Clematis: Marie Boisselot on the Arbor to the Cutting Garden

End of Season Roses: Gruss an Aachen in the Children's Garden

End of Season Roses: Rose de Rescht in the Egg Garden