High School Help
About two years ago, while I was raking leaves at the Butterfly Cottage, a visitor stopped to talk. The visitor was the Career Liaison for the Tamalpais Unified School District. He came by to see if the Center was interested offering internships to high school students. This was fortuitous, as I had just been wondering […]
Have Felcos, Will Travel
Three to four times a year, a wandering band of pruners equipped with Felcos, saws and ladders descend upon our campus. This sprinkling of gardeners is called the Pruning Guild. The Pruning Guild is led by a most excellent pruner, Katherine Randolph. She coordinates instructor-led pruning classes here in our gardens and at others in […]
“We Got Company!”
You know how it is when you know you have company coming over and you put off things to do until the day is upon you? Well, that happened to the gardeners at the Center earlier this month. It’s like my house was a mess and I had to clean up quickly before the Filoli […]
When Things Break
At 8:30 in the morning last Monday, our gardener Tom discovered a serious flowing leak. Water was cascading down the stairs that lead to the Barn. This was quite unexpected! As you may well know, the garden is full of surprises. When things break or something unexpected happens, the best anyone can do is to […]
Octopus Agave
Agave vilmoriniana is the Latin name for Octopus agave. It is so named because of its arching and undulating leaves that resemble an octopus. It takes ten years for the agave to produce its impressive towering stalk, which can reach up to 20 feet. After flowering, the plant dies, making it monocarpic. I’d like to […]
My Redbud is Thriving Despite Me
On the way to the recycling bin at my house, a reaching limb brushed my cheek. It was as is if it was trying to get my attention. Having deposited the recyclables, I turned to the face the redbud tree that beckoned. I was astonished to realize the height, reach and vibrancy of it. This […]
Sprinkle; Dig; Society; Awesome
The official collective noun for a group of gardeners is known as a sprinkle. Other ones I’ve heard through the years include a dig of gardeners and a society of gardeners. Another name for a group of gardeners that come together regularly at Marin Art and Garden Center is the Horticultural Advisory Committee. I personally […]
It’s Never Nothing
By putting things to do on a list, we are not deferring. This is important in a garden of our size. Of course there’s only so much a gardener can do in a day. But by applying the art of maintenance, each item on that list gets checked off and that feels good! Soon, though, […]
Flowers and Weeds
As I walked around our campus Monday morning, all I could see was a weed patch with some flowers. Of course it’s actually the other way around: we have a beautiful garden here with some spring weeds. My gardener goggles were on and could only see the weeds. That thought carried me to my general […]
Nectar Guide
I recently caught myself staring into a foxglove flower. As my eyes dug deeper into the psychedelic pattern, I became transfixed. It occurred to me that I had been drawn in by a nectar guide. Like hummingbirds and insects, I was guided into the opening the flower! Of course I was not rewarded with pollen […]
