tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86315591399927853362024-03-19T01:47:06.200-07:00My Life in Gardenshorticulture . living well + artfully . looking backwards + forwards . dreaming . growingVeronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05411141822019479238noreply@blogger.comBlogger77125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8631559139992785336.post-51916376875551540202024-03-08T14:21:00.000-08:002024-03-18T09:00:16.640-07:00CALLALOO: THE DISH. COLOCASIA AND AMARANTH ARE THE PLANTSIn 2021 I worked with two women who were opposed to using
botanical names on designs, plant orders, or in the office. In fact they
believed the practice was "stupid" as (they insisted) most nursery people did not know the
scientific or botanical names of plants, shrubs and trees, so using them was a
waste of time. I did not and do not agree. On one occasion I pointed out that
Aster cordifolius Veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05411141822019479238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8631559139992785336.post-58168631267367631262024-02-16T13:20:00.000-08:002024-02-16T13:41:49.572-08:00A TROPICAL HOME OF BUTTERFLIES + MOTHS My obsession with lepidoptera and their host plants began as a child, growing up on tropical landscapes. I was mesmerized by longwing butterflies (Helconious spp.) as they feasted on pollen and nectar from flowers on passionflower vines. The butterflies were mostly orange colored with black and white patches. Rare visitors were Zebra longwings or longwings with red and black wing markings. Veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05411141822019479238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8631559139992785336.post-59767116953485253032024-01-12T17:54:00.000-08:002024-01-15T18:05:20.549-08:00PERCH: Hummingbirds of Trinidad + TobagoWHITE-NECKED JACOBINCOPPER-RUMPED Veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05411141822019479238noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8631559139992785336.post-4933895068407951752023-11-12T13:49:00.000-08:002023-11-14T15:43:03.143-08:00WEAR PLANTS: Connecting People + PlantsCreative plant and ecology-based programing was one significant goal I accomplished as the Manager of Horticulture at Randall's Island Park Alliance. By introducing basic concepts of botany, the beauty and usefulness of flowers and the importance that butterflies, bees, birds and bats play in the pollination of flowers, I hoped to make staff and park visitors more aware of the importance of our Veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05411141822019479238noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8631559139992785336.post-79379456142759645762023-11-12T10:54:00.000-08:002023-11-14T16:14:41.953-08:00WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU PEPPERS MAKE HORT SAUCE
My sisters and bothers are cooks and gardeners and we
are all snobs when it comes to good food. We are makers of scrumptious
dishes that attempt to rival those of our industrious and talented mother
Pearl. Under Pearl’s tutelage we learned
to bake bread and cakes, make home-made ice-cream make chutneys, kuchela, tamarind sauce, preserved cherries, guava, papaya and pineapple jamVeronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05411141822019479238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8631559139992785336.post-81088879326592556412023-07-01T16:49:00.008-07:002023-09-22T12:01:14.934-07:00WISDOM FROM BETH CHATTO
As gardeners we are
constantly looking at the forecast and sucking our teeth at the varying
percentages indicating the probability of rain. We know better than to trust weather charts and water our gardens anyway. I am sometimes told by passersby that I
don’t have to water because it is going to rain, or they point out that it is already raining. Yeah. Right. I ignore Veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05411141822019479238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8631559139992785336.post-90233280948849693152023-03-06T18:22:00.000-08:002023-03-06T18:22:05.001-08:00My Life in Gardens: IN THE GARDEN WITH MOMMy Life in Gardens: IN THE GARDEN WITH MOM: I go home to my politics-spewing, cricket-watching, gospel-tune-whistling family in Trinidad. A few years ago, in September, I crossed the m...Veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05411141822019479238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8631559139992785336.post-22912868348274181422023-02-26T15:53:00.003-08:002024-02-16T13:24:28.558-08:00IN THE GARDEN WITH MOMI go home to my politics-spewing, cricket-watching, gospel-tune-whistling family in Trinidad. A few years ago, in September, I crossed the mark and I have now lived in New York for more than half of my life. As much I am a New Yorker, Trinidad and Tobago is home too. Trips to the islands rarely take me to the beach. Instead I fall into doing whatever my folks or siblings are doing at the Veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05411141822019479238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8631559139992785336.post-34626818210080573552022-05-07T09:20:00.016-07:002023-01-16T10:19:02.072-08:00TREES IN BEAUTY, TIME + SPACE
Trees In Beauty, Time + Space
I grew up in the Caribbean and
never experienced autumn or snowfall until I was twenty-four years old, when I immigrated to the US. There are two seasons in the islands of the Caribbean, the rainy season and the dry season. In Trinidad we look forward to the flowering
of the Poui tree
(Tabebuia serratifolia) from March to May, at the Veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05411141822019479238noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8631559139992785336.post-15944564236118872932021-06-30T12:44:00.002-07:002021-07-02T12:24:43.403-07:00CLEVER CATERPILLARS
Butterflies, like all organisms, are intent on surviving. Some live for only
a few days while others live for many months in their adult stage, often
surviving harsh winters or perilous journeys to food and breeding
grounds. The goal is always the same: to mate, reproduce and continue the
survival of the species.
Some butterflies have evolved clever tactics to disguise Veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05411141822019479238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8631559139992785336.post-471499595966721952021-02-16T01:36:00.041-08:002024-01-10T14:58:02.003-08:00COME LEH WE LIME - Peas, Fire + Steel Today, one day before Ash Wednesday, marks the end of the two-day celebration of revelry and musical explosion in what has been called the greatest show on earth, Trinidad and Tobago Carnival. For years I witnessed thousands of paraders donning costumes fashioned around social commentary, political satire, global issues of the day, history, folklore, flora and fauna of the islands. All the Veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05411141822019479238noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8631559139992785336.post-33784216232270855662020-08-19T12:09:00.017-07:002021-03-02T20:16:33.050-08:00BIRDS OF NORTH HARLEMHarlem may seem like an unlikely location for bird-watching. Yet, for the past few months Harlemites have woken up to the sounds of multitudes of bird calls, some just outside their bedroom windows. New Yorkers are used to the sounds of those sometimes-pesky sparrows that are like miniature pigeons. They seem to be everywhere waiting for the crumbs of your sandwich as you sit in the park. They Veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05411141822019479238noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8631559139992785336.post-76306552586223608672020-02-23T12:02:00.002-08:002021-06-04T08:08:29.924-07:00BUTTERFLY ARTMy obsession with butterflies and moths has grown over the past few months. It began out of a need to identify and showcase the caterpillars that had invaded my community garden in Harlem and to pair them with their adult butterfly or moth stage. I also wanted other gardeners to understand the reasons why I grew particular 'weedy' plants and did not share their habit of cutting back or removing Veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05411141822019479238noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8631559139992785336.post-91119432611096963142020-02-17T14:20:00.002-08:002020-02-22T14:44:59.256-08:00THE MOON IN BLOOMTHE MOON (excerpt) - Robert Louis Stevenson
“The moon has a face like the clock in the hall;
She shines on thieves on the garden wall,
On streets and fields and harbour quays,
And birdies asleep in the forks of the trees."
Mysterious, night-blooming vine in the morning glory family, Ipomea alba was a highlight among tomatoes, butternut squash, peppers and Veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05411141822019479238noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8631559139992785336.post-42241340262356042772019-11-03T20:37:00.004-08:002020-09-21T08:55:53.545-07:00QOCI - QUINONES OF CONEY ISLAND, THE CONSTANT GARDENER
"Be the reason someone believes in the goodness of people."
- Anonymous
In
my almost thirty years of living in New York City I've encountered many
remarkable and inspirational people. Some have influenced my career choices and greatly added to the quality of my life. I've also made many mistakes, vapid, ingenuous acquaintances and dealt with parasitic individuals Veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05411141822019479238noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8631559139992785336.post-83633863454886912272019-08-13T12:17:00.000-07:002019-12-17T14:27:57.532-08:00DESIGN FOR POLLINATORS
Flowering plants, whether herbaceous perennials, annuals, shrubs or trees, are delightful to the senses. We are drawn to their clusters or punctuations of color in delicate or robust shapes, varied textures and subtle or bold scents. Insects and birds are also drawn to flowering plants. Flowers provide nutritious and tasty nectar that insects and hummingbirds need for energy to fly, reproduce Veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05411141822019479238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8631559139992785336.post-86574112620848396562019-08-12T20:57:00.004-07:002021-03-12T08:05:05.973-08:00BUTTERFLIES, MOTHS + CATERPILLARS
Butterfly sightings
elicit excited shrieks from delighted children and adults. It is a special
treat to glimpse these beautiful winged insects in our urban landscapes, floating
on the air or darting about. For some, seeing a butterfly is magical and a hint
of the spiritual realm. For others it is a natural wonder and a reminder of the
beauty and frailty of all life. Whatever you may feel Veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05411141822019479238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8631559139992785336.post-41955295891617593032018-06-16T14:06:00.000-07:002019-07-25T12:24:17.837-07:00THE ROBERT L. CLINKSCALES COMMUNITY GARDEN
Russ, a recently added member, has been keeping the paths weed-free and tidy.
The black swallowtail butterfly lays its eggs on bronze fennel plants in the Memorial Garden. Caterpillars soon emerge.
Crocosmia 'Lucifer' in the Memorial Garden
The Memorial Garden bed in summer
Veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05411141822019479238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8631559139992785336.post-32951396180322230512018-04-01T16:35:00.001-07:002018-04-24T19:14:26.919-07:00TOMATOES, DEATH AND TAXES
The death of a loved
one, coworker or pet reminds us of our own mortality. At least temporarily, we
reevaluate what is important, what is worth our time and energy. Those departed, especially the most recent
ones, are really adept at their job. I
had a fair share of loss over the past year, the most recent being the loss of
my cat, Gigi. Often referred to as Mr. Gigi, that
Veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05411141822019479238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8631559139992785336.post-56760601516421627522017-01-29T23:58:00.000-08:002017-08-18T07:22:53.226-07:00Birds and Blooms of T&TThe garden in January, February and March may not offer much in terms of color, especially when you live in a snow-covered New York City. But the garden during these months is something to look forward to, when you have deep roots in The Land of The Hummingbird. Cultural hybridity has many advantages.
These photos of flora and birds of Trinidad and Tobago were taken at the Asa Wright Veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05411141822019479238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8631559139992785336.post-27851418299985310652016-08-05T13:40:00.004-07:002016-08-05T13:54:38.106-07:00WATER GARDENS
AT NYBG
Veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05411141822019479238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8631559139992785336.post-31395546753877724282016-04-26T11:14:00.000-07:002016-04-26T11:14:29.797-07:00Spring in Harlem
The courtyard garden at The Ellington
Veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05411141822019479238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8631559139992785336.post-78144383307218771262016-04-19T13:39:00.002-07:002016-04-22T06:54:58.078-07:00Growing Food: The Sweet LifeLast summer marked my third season of growing plants for food. It has been
many years since I started growing herbs in small window boxes but I have now graduated to growing a
range of edible plants in the ground. It is remarkable how satisfying
and rewarding this activity has become. I was fortunate to land a little
bed in a partly shaded corner of the Robert Clinkscale Playground and
Veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05411141822019479238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8631559139992785336.post-80402255894488801962016-02-14T11:22:00.000-08:002016-02-14T13:42:15.053-08:00Cardinal and Dogwood
He is a frequent visitor and a bit of warmth on this chilly Valentine's Day.Veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05411141822019479238noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8631559139992785336.post-67368643477019076962015-10-31T20:14:00.001-07:002016-11-25T09:19:55.067-08:00Casa Azul
Azul is the Spanish word for blue, which I expected to see lots of. However, I was a bit surprised to find that La Casa Azul was painted in a deep ultramarine blue rather than a brighter, more cheerful blue like cerulean or turquoise or even cobalt blue. It felt at times a weighty blue. El Greco would have approved. Nevertheless, if it is an actual reproduction of the color Frida and Diego Veronicahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05411141822019479238noreply@blogger.com0