Today's Features

Returning from a mid-May trip to Virginia, I was very happy to be bringing back a bouquet of lilacs cut from my sister’s yard.
Growing up, we both loved an old lilac that stood at our home’s back door and would often take flowering branches, stems wrapped in damp paper towels, to our teachers. The scent of lilacs still transports me back to those schoolgirl days.

I recently read a story that related how learning to play music can help trauma victims.

This article was about the “Guitars for Vets” initiative.
It was fascinating to learn about the mission of this organization and how much it has grown nationwide – to more than 25 chapters.

The program offers one-on-one free guitar lessons (and a loaner guitar) to veterans who suffer from mental disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of war, deaths, injuries or other disasters.

My sister recently sent me interesting newspaper articles about old trees on two Virginia college campuses. In both cases the trees were in rapidly declining health and deemed safety hazards. There were emotional outpourings of sadness by students, alumni and townspeople as each was scheduled for removal. But then, something wonderful happened.
At Virginia Tech an ancient sycamore had stood prominently on Henderson Lawn, the southern entrance to campus, since before the university was established in 1872.

Spring floods, summer droughts and temperature extremes take their toll on gardens and the gardeners who tend them.

It is possible to help gardens recover from the crazy temperature and moisture extremes that seem to occur each year.

Start by assessing the current condition of the landscape. Remove dead plants as soon as possible; they can harbor insect and disease organisms that can infest healthy plantings. Consider replacing struggling plants with healthy plants better suited to the space, growing conditions and landscape design.