Lora Gauss

“A thing of beauty is a joy forever.” – John Keats I would like to think that beautiful things are timeless. Though the memory of them may be, the actual things eventually wear out and are discarded. The same is true for plants. They bring us joy, fulfill their life cycles and return…

“Every great drink starts with a plant.” – Amy Stewart It seems particularly appropriate at this festive time of year to pay homage to the central role plants play in the libations we enjoy. And, what better way than through the entertaining bestseller “The Drunken Botanist” by gardening maven Amy Stewart. Her central premise is…

Nothing adds warmth to the December holiday season like the poinsettia plant. I recall seeing them only in the color red when I was young, but a recent trip to a local store showcased not only the usual deep red or white, but Princettia poinsettias (bubble gum pink with smaller bracts), Fleursettias (bright red…

“Green fingers are the extension of a verdant heart.” – Russell Page It is not easy to have a green thumb, but many fall gardeners certainly qualify. This time of year they are extremely busy because fall is a time when there is much to do. Among other things, they have to winterize…

Pumpkins seem to be lurking all around us these fall months. They are seemingly everywhere, such as in lit displays at the Penn State Arboretum Pumpkin Festival or as part of singular events like Bald Eagle’s Oct. 22nd Punkin’ Chunkin’ extravaganza. To be honest, the television special “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” and perhaps a…

“Nature is a haunted house.” – Emily Dickinson   Dickinson, the reclusive American poet, felt the world of nature to be a hauntingly mysterious place, and what better time than Halloween to explore a sampling of its spookier and more malevolent residents. The natural world is full of many insects, plants and…

 Ever wondered where that supermarket bouquet of mums comes from? How about the lovely arrangement of yellow roses available at the florist for Mother’s Day or the six-pack of purple petunias at the garden center? Their collective story is amazing. The truth is that, today, many flowers travel far more than most people.…

John Muir is a common name in my mother’s family. My grandfather, uncle and cousin all lay claim to that name, as well as our distant ancestry in Scotland. It’s easy to imagine, then, why I felt a connection to the famous John Muir while growing up.

Garden environments have long been suspected to have restorative value. Ancient peoples used sacred groves, special rocks and caves for this purpose.