Bruce Crawford

Without doubt, I appreciate the beauty and – for those selections so ‘gifted’ – the fragrance of a rose. Admittedly, for many years I was reluctant to include roses in a garden. Maybe it was my parent’s ill-fated attempts at growing them or the simple fact that many ‘bite’ should I get too close, but I simply was not sold on gardening with roses. Of course, it was only a matter of time before I changed my mind! Several years back I was smitten by the Smooth Rose, botanically called Rosa...

My appreciation for shade trees has certainly changed over the years. Like many gardeners, it was a group of plants I valued yet rarely used in designs or planted! Of course, perspectives change and I am now a huge proponent of planting shade trees. I have grown especially fond of trees that can tolerate the abuses associated with tough sites and are beneficial to wildlife. Hackberry or Celtis occidentalis was a shade tree I initially learned in school, although I recall it was often...

During my drive to work, I pass a number of homes whose landscapes mostly consist of a tidy row of shrubs paired with a neatly trimmed lawn. The spring may offer some floral enhancement, but by-and-large, the landscapes remain a steadfast green. Few homeowners consider replacing some of those shrubs and the lawn with a stylized meadow featuring sweeps of various flowering perennials and grasses. This style of design provides color, texture and a much-needed habitat for our insects and...