PHOTO / TEXT PACKAGES

Here are some stories I developed, wrote and photographed

These magazine stories arose from my observations, commitment to organic and sustainable gardening, passion, curiosity, random encounters and hard-earned experience in gardens and kitchens, on the road and in nature.

2016-09-07T13:10:31-04:00

Plants on the Rocks

The American Gardener

(The American Horticultural Society)

Rocks, whether glacial boulders, bedrock outcrops or gravel, speak powerfully of place – especially when colonized by native plants adapted to rocky habitats. Inspired by plant communities in nature, I’ve dug into plants that survive in and soften stone in our built landscapes, and collected tips for planting in places too rocky to dig.

 

2016-09-07T13:11:15-04:00

The Carbon Connection

Wildflower

(The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center)

Ecology requires seeing the big picture while focusing on the specific and thinking across boundaries. Biogeochemist William Schlesinger, in this interview before his retirement as director of The Cary Institute for Ecosystem Studies, introduced me to the term “Translational Ecology.” His statement of purpose – “Unless the discoveries of ecological science are rapidly translated into meaningful actions, they will remain quietly archived while the biosphere degrades.” – helped me define my purpose – to translate ecology into action in our own backyards, one yard at a time.

2016-08-26T11:04:14-04:00

Branching Out

This Old House magazine

Artist Thyrza Whittemore has developed artful ways of making plant supports for her garden. Learn her tips and tricks for twig trellises.