A few years ago, I visited my friend, Judy Ann's, garden. It was early evening in late June, and the air was filled with the sound of tree frogs singing a chorus. At the back of the border standing tall in the fading sunlight, I saw my first Reckamp daylily. The color was that of a ripe tangerine or an orange dreamsicle, and although the flower was a simple trumpet shape, it glowed as if lit from within. Mouth open, I pointed, and Judy Ann smiled. "Ah, the Reckamp glow," she said, "Brother Reckamp created daylilies that look like no other." Judy Ann is a daylily hybridizer and an avid collector of Reckamp's work. In her garden, she showed me colors and toothy edges which were not only beautiful, but also before their time. I, soon, became a fan of his flowers, but I was even more intrigued by the...

And home of the Brave. We celebrated with lots of yard work in the a.m. Look for the evidence in the background of the photo. Now, it's time to kick back, eat brats, hot dogs, potato salad, baked beans and corn salad. Ice cream and a red, white & blue compote for dessert. Fireworks will begin at sundown. Happy Independence Day America, and may God bless us all.

OVER the shoulders and slopes of the dune I saw the white daisies go down to the sea, A host in the sunshine, an army in June, The people God sends us to set our hearts free. The bobolinks rallied them up from the dell, The orioles whistled them out of the wood; And all of their singing was, "Earth, it is well!" And all of their dancing was, "Life, thou art good!" --Bliss Carman April 15, 1861 - June 8, 1929 According to Wikipedia, Mr. Carman was a preeminent Canadian poet. He was born William Bliss Carman, but liked to publish under his mother's maiden name of Bliss. I like that. We all need a little more bliss in our lives. One of the most wonderful things about Muse Day is that I've greatly expanded my knowledge of poetry. I've discovered poets I've never read, and that includes Mr....

I remember reading in a publication somewhere long ago that the most important color in the garden was green. I remember because, at that moment, the brakes in my mind came to a screeching halt, and I thought: What!?! This was early in my horticulture enthusiasm when I only thought about Bold Color All the Time. Around my three Hybrid Tea roses ('Tiffany,' 'Double Delight' and 'Chryslur Imperial',) I planted hot pink begonias and periwinkles in straight rows like small soldiers on the march. My design capabilities were limited, and green foliage was simply a means to an end; literally the stick with leaves which held up the "perfect" rose. In my defense, this was before I had any shade, and before I learned how great green looks in the garden; how soothing it is; how it helps one's vision move from one part of the garden to the other....