Travails in my zone 7 Virginia garden are interrupted by occasional travel postings. Sunday, May 8, 2011. This is also prime time for columbines, which have self-sown all over the garden. The blue ones are most prevalent, but some occasional white ones and even a raspberry one pop up here and there. Most exciting of all is the Zepherine Drouhin rose, which is blo.

Around the year in my Zone 7 garden, interrupted by occasional travel. A castle, a garden, a plane ride. Today we had to bid farewell to the luxurious Gordon Guest House. Among the joys of the house were the two USB ports in the bedroom, which Martin later told us had been recommended by the tourist board and were usually found only at 5-star hotels.

People may have to be re-housed, sometimes in refugee camps.