Have flower will travel (a year in bloom)

January: Gentianella cerastoides

It was easy for me to pick my favorite plant we found in Ecuador: in the shadow of Cotopaxi I thought I'd found crocuses at first. But no: a gentian. Ecuador is chockablock full of fantastic flowers--we saw plenty in rain forest, cloud forest...but the Paramo stole my heart and this gem of a gentian encapsulates it. Oh yeah--the Galapagos are awesome too!

February: mammillarias at B&B Nursery, Tucson

My favorite part of winter is escaping to California, Arizona--anyplace warmer than Denver. We did a swing through New Mexico (talk in Santa Fe), El Paso (another talk) and finally a week with friends in Tucson. We always visit B&B Nursery where I came back with treasure! I would have liked to bring home this whole bench of February color! Not enough room in my newish car (it's used)

March part one: Footsteps of Spring (Sanicula arctopoides)

March saw two trips: my swan-song as President of NARGS at a GONZO conference in Oakland: saw tons of gems in gardens (four of America's greatest public gardens no less: in full swing of Spring! and private gardens to die for). And field trips in the wild--but finally following the footsteps of spring was my ultimate flower high! I was tempted to pick one of the dozens of pictures of Fritillaria affinis--but already featured these in a blog post!

March part two: Salvia roemeriana

Seeing Texas in Superbloom has been a life-long dream: this year I did it for my birthday present to myself. Thanks to Patrick Kirwin, I joined an anthology of the greatest Austin plantsmen on a days trip to a mind boggling private ranch where I found this sage (and hundreds of other gems) that melted my heart. A friend in Denver grows this outside perennially! Then Patrick and my dear buddy Tom Peace took me on a drive through miles of color in Bastrop County. Best birthday present ever!

Paeonia tenuifolia in Sally Allen's garden

I did a week long nursery hopping trip to Oregon, Idaho and Utah in late April to buy rock garden plants for our club's sale in Denver: enchanted Spring! Just me, the cargo van, NPR alternating with Classical music and a hundred basin and ranges drifting by in gorgeous green and snow white color: America is so beautiful: I hope the Maggots don't spoil it beyond redemption. Bought treasures at Sally Allen's inspiring nursery near Medford (her garden seen above) just in time--she passed away a few weeks ago.

May in Sutton Valence

There is a garden beyond compare in Kent we revisited this past May. I don't think there shall ever be another garden like it--a treasure trove of thousands of choice plants grown in impeccable greenhouses (alpine, desert, Mediterranean), chiseled perfect parterres, and rock gardens, borders, woodlands and views to kill for over the English countryside. And then we stayed two days at Great Dixter. Heaven.

Iris paradoxa

How to pick among the thousand or so fantastic plants we saw in Armenia? No brainer--this was it

June: Penstemon pseudospectabilis

Incredibly, we only traveled within Colorado in June: this vignette: [stupidly named] Penstemon pseudospectabilis (which verges on being weedy in Glenn and Patrice's stunning garden) against a yellow bench: as emblematic as William Carlos William's rain-spattered red wheelbarrow and white chickens.

Polemonium sp. nov.?

An enchanted week on the Bighorns, Yellowstone and Beartooth Pass--where I revisited this Jacob's ladder, which I was convinced is undescribed. I came home and Mike Kintgen told me researchers are working on naming it (it's not viscosum nor confertum b.t.w.--its two closest cousins.)

August: Cleretum hestermalense

For three years running we have spent late winter (in South Africa) August reveling in superbloom. Each year it seems to be getting better! Can I risk a fourth? Thank you, Karel Du Toit--best tour guide on the planet. My tenth trip to South Africa was in 2024: hopefully not my last.

Rebecca Day-Skowron

September we were homebodies again--although we did manage an afternoon and evening jaunt to Raven Ranch--an extraordinary merging of great plantsmanship and art on acres of Black Forest and prairie. Rebecca and her husband Bob are two of my best friends--for decades. They just keep getting better--like the fine wine we were sipping...

October (part one) Mesa Gardens 

A presentation in Santa Fe (AGAIN) brought us back to the Enchanted State where we spent an incredible two days with Steve and Linda Brack--Steve is one of my life-long heroes who has become a dear friend: visiting Mesa Gardens (which he and Linda created and sold a few years ago) was haunting--greenhouse after greenhouse of treasures (most of which Steve grew from seed he collected himself decades ago in Argentina, all over Mexico and the Southwest, and all over South Africa as well!) next to THE MAN, and the delightful new owners who are carrying on the mission. Don't tell my fellow botanic gardeners--this nursery puts botanic gardens to shame.

October part two: Eriogonum heermanii

Back to Las Vegas (NV) for the second year to speak to Desert Green trade show. Last year cataclysmic rains in August washed out the road to Mount Charleston (we were thwarted). This year we made it and were rewarded by finding one of America's greatest buckwheats in prodigal seed.

November, Prunus (autumn reblooming)

Ten days of wending the back roads of New England--a week after peak of fall color! It was stunning enough as it was. Fantastic gardens and treasured friendships--this re-blooming Japanese Cherry (stupidly forgot to photograph the label) captures the promise of another spring when I hope to come back in peak Cherry Blossom season. I'm contracted to do so, I should add. (Good buddy Bill Barnes identified this as Prtunus subhirtella 'Autumnalis': thank you Bill!)

Almost December: Anna and Yoana née Taylor

 No firm plants this month to fly afar (that could change however), but my beloved and brilliant niece Anna did fly from afar (Bay area) to share Thanksgiving dinner with us. She was joined here by Russ Gillam (her new love of her life)--with whom we too bonded. One of my OTHER adorable nieces (Yoana Georgis) joined Jan and me touring Denver Botanic Gardens one balmy night amid the myriad lights. Oh yes, I forgot to mention Lulu--Anna's companion Australian cattle-dog hybrid mix--a sleek and beautiful creature who was convinced I was a cow. I know I can be bullish--and that's no B.S.!