Ed Myers’s Story Archive

Tulip Mania

April 20, 2017 | by Ed Myers

There was a short period of time (1636 – 1637) in Holland when a single tulip bulb sold for ten times the annual income of a skilled workman.  In some instances, single bulbs were traded for twelve acres of land, four oxen, twelve fat sheep, 1,000 pounds of cheese or … Read More

Irvington Gardeners of Old . . .

May 5, 2016 | by Ed Myers

The flower beds of Irvington’s earliest gardeners where planted in stiff geometrical shapes including stars, crescents and triangles. For example, the bed in the front yard of Laura Giddings Julian’s (1839-84), home at 115 South Audubon Road, was in the shape of a huge star. It was the pride of … Read More

Beautiful But Stinky

March 17, 2016 | by Ed Myers

Although I have known of their existence and have grown them at the Benton House (1873) Historic Garden in the past, I recently re-ordered six bulbs of Pineapple Lily (Eucomis bicolor) for planting in that garden this spring. Eucomis is an amazing, semi-tropical bulb which produces magnificent, late summer inflorescences … Read More

Early Birds in the Garden

February 18, 2016 | by Ed Myers

“You might think that after thousands of years of coming up too soon and getting frozen, the crocus family would have a little sense knocked into it.” — Robert Benchley (1889-1945) Crocuses (crocus, singular) are one of the first flowers to bloom in the spring and can often be seen … Read More

2015 Garden Trends

April 2, 2015 | by Ed Myers

At long last we are blessed with signs of spring. I have tulips which are 5 inches above the ground, a few daffodils showing buds, and crocus which have already bloomed. In anticipation of this year’s gardening season, I recently googled The Annual Garden Trends Report of the Garden Media … Read More