It's Red Dirt Ramblings' two year anniversary, and what a wonderful time I've had. Let's see what's different about my garden and life from two years ago. Because of the blog: I take better care of my garden.  It's still messy, or blowzy as I like to think of it, but I'm always considering that next photo opportunity.  Therefore, I'm better about cleaning up and garden chores. My photos are better than they once were. I have an audience to tell about my roses, all ninety-five of them, and counting. I'm often asked if I make money blogging.  Well, no, not per se, but I write for more print publications than beforehand (and more online ones too). When I attended the Garden Writers Symposium this year, more vendors knew me from the blog than anywhere else. And, because of writing as the Oklahoma Gardening Examiner, I get more books and...

As we traveled on the bus for the second or third day (they all began to blur into a seamless, leafy consciousness), I turned to Kathy Purdy of Cold Climate Gardening and asked "Are you excited about visiting Montrose?"  At her incredulous look, I continued, "I mean, is it a big deal?" Carol of May Dreams Gardens and Mary Ann of Idaho Gardener turned around in their seats.  "You're kidding right?" they said in unison. "You know, it's Nancy Goodwin's garden.  She wrote books and sold Cyclamen through her nursery." I shook my head. I don't grow cyclamen, I wanted to say.  They don't live in Oklahoma except as houseplants, and you know how I feel about indoor plants. You may have guessed by now that I didn't know who Nancy Goodwin is. I do now. When we first entered Montrose, we were taken on a guided tour around the...

What happens when you have an internationally recognized plant hunter come to North Carolina State University? You learn everything you can from him and then name the eight-acre arboretum (which he founded) after him. J.C. Raulston came to NCSU in 1976. I found this interesting because, at nearly the same time, in Oklahoma, I began to really think about gardening.  I was in high school, and my bedroom was full of houseplants in containers and hanging macramé holders.  That was when I knew I could grow things. A few years later while in college, I actually went outside and placed plants in the ground. While visiting the arboretum, I discovered that James Chester Raulston was born on a wheat farm and cattle ranch in Oklahoma. He went to Oklahoma State University. Eventually, he made his way to North Carolina where he made connections with other plant geeks all over the...

Black-Eyed Susan by John Gay ALL in the Downs the fleet was moor’d, The streamers waving in the wind, When black-eyed Susan came aboard; ‘O! where shall I my true-love find? Tell me, ye jovial sailors, tell me true 5 If my sweet William sails among the crew.’ William, who high upon the yard Rock’d with the billow to and fro, Soon as her well-known voice he heard He sigh’d, and cast his eyes below: 10 The cord slides swiftly through his glowing hands, And quick as lightning on the deck he stands. So the sweet lark, high poised in air, Shuts close his pinions to his breast If chance his mate’s shrill call he hear, 15 And drops at once into her nest:— The noblest captain in the British fleet Might envy William’s lip those kisses sweet. ‘O Susan, Susan, lovely dear, My vows shall ever true remain; 20...