Breezy morning

Grasses and bananas are so different, but I love the way they both catch even the slightest breeze and dance in the wind.  It's a pleasant morning in Washington, DC and I'm just back from a trip to Atlanta for the GWA Annual Conference & Expo, sorting through the 600+ garden photos I took in 4 days and trying to get back to this blogging thing.  But right now, there's something to be said for just sitting on the roof deck and gazing at the garden while everything looks its very best at the end of the growing season.

Vacation care for indoor plants

Indoor plants, 2016

I'm not a happy traveler; I admit it, I'm one of those people who worries whether I locked the doors or left the stove on.  As a gardener, one of my more realistic worries is coming home to dead and dying plants.  I've been growing plants indoors for over 40 years, originally houseplants, although now I primarily propagate plants from seeds and cuttings for planting outdoors later.  I know exactly how much water each plant needs, and how often.  I examine nearly every plant, nearly every day, and water each one exactly when it needs it.  But what to do when I can't be home to take care of them?  Below are some of the ways I help my plants (and my sanity) survive this perilous time.