A quick look back...(half a year anyway)

California coast highway en route to Eureka

2025 began with an action packed tour to the Bay area where I spoke to 3 groups (Western chapter NARGS, San Francisco CSSA and Sacramento CSSA) visited dear friends in Marin, Sacramento, Eureka and East Bay--notably my brother and his family in Castro Valley: I should have done a half dozen blog posts about this fabulous trip. But didn't! I must go back and do more blog posts--at least about Fort Ross! Someplace I've dreamed of visiting all my life--thank you Robin (Parer)!

Volunteers filling orders for NARGS seed exchange at DBG

And why, prithee wasn't I blogging? Coordinating sixty volunteers as we fillled almost 700 seed orders with thousands of kinds of seed gobbled up most of the rest of January 2025 (as it is poised to do again starting today this year,,,)

Nature reserve in Chicago

February saw a return to routine, if you ignore a quick trip to speak at Illinois' biggest Horticultural trade show in Schaumberg--and visits with two more good friends there--and a quick jaunt to Madison to visit my son...

Early March featured a visit to Niagara falls thanks to dear friends Barbara Cooper and Bella Seiden who invited me to speak to Toronto's dynamic Rock Garden and Hardy Plant group. Normalcy seemed to return just in time for the annual Tree Diversity Symposium near my birthday with a notable visit from Sean Hogan I did manage to post about. Little realizing that two days later we would experience to loss of Brian Vogt--my beloved boss of 18 years--and the most extraordinary leader I've been privileged to know closely.

              Fritillaria nigra                                                            Fritillaria caucasica                                           

April was one of the gentlest ones ever when it came to weather, but T.S. Eliot knew better: on April 3, my eldest nephew Anthony (Doni) Taylor died from anaphylactic shock from a bee sting in Boulder. He and Brian were two men nearest and dearest to my heart: losing them both within a few weeks was a shock. Jan and I had already purchased tickets to go to Italy mid month--fulfilling a lifelong yearning to visit Ravenna and Rome (for my first time ever). The trip was healing and high Spring in Italy was a dream come true. 

Apse mosaic in the Basilica of San Vitale, Ravenna

We returned to a garden in full bloom, and the craziness of the local Cactus and Rock Garden club sales in Denver.

Vignette from the extraordinary garden of Elisabeth and Rod Zander

May began with an lecture tour through New England (thanks to the Connecticut Horticultural Society). New England in high Spring is a powerful tonic, and staying with friends and family in Massachusetts, Connecticut and New York was incredibly fulfilling. Seeing so many great gardens (I only posted blogs about a fraction of them) was an incredible opportunity. Visiting John O'Brien's unbelievable nursery (I wanted to buy everything, but settled on quite a few items--which he refused to accept payment for) and several days with Darrell Probst--a friend of decades and one of America's greatest hybridizeers--not to mention seeing my nephew Peter (Tachi) Taylor and his husband Harry Rodriguez' re-new home nearly finished--these are highlights of a lifetime, not just a trip. Oh yes! Joe Pyeweed Nursery garden in full spring glory--perhaps the most perfect garden I know of....

Physaria didymocarpa on Dead Indian Pass, Wyoming

June was pretty much nonstop activity: Denver Botanic Gardens hosted the American Public Gardens Association in early June. I led a field trip to Boulder Gardens with an unforgettable lunch for the whole busload at the Dushanbe Teahouse (underwritten by a dear friend). Mid June we helped organize the North American Rock Garden Society's annual meeting in Cheyenne with great speakers and field trips (hosting Connor Smith--a Scottish born gardener who curates Utrecht's fantastic rock garden was a special treat), and finally leading a week trip to Northwestern Wyoming for NARGS--peak flower and a great group of people!)--that was really enough activity to fill a whole year. And mind you--we're only half way through...I can't resist posting a small album from this miraculous month below.

The exquisite crevice garden at Cheyenne Botanic Gardens in full bloom for the Conference!

Dushanbe teahouse in full glory!

Calochortus uniflorus

At Suzi Brown's lovely Louisville garden for the APGA tour

Katy and Gary Bohn's fantastic garden north of Boulder on our Rock Garden Club tour--forgot to mention we did that too!

Vignette from Anne Smith's great Boulder garden on the RMC tour in June


Saxifraga oppositifolia on Beartooth Pass

Connor Smith in front of Dryas octopetala (avatar of the Scottish Rock Garden Club)

Believe it or not, the last half of the year was even busier! Trips to Central China, Chile--not to mention criss-cross the USA and some big projects at home and work...If I can come up for air in seed shipping season, I will attempt to share that too.

But this must do for now. Happy New Year!