I Love Impatiens walleriana Beacon®
Name: Impatiens walleriana Beacon® Type of Plant: The free-flowering, grown from seed Impatiens you have long known and loved, with one huge difference: a high resistance to Impatiens downy mildew. Why I Love This Plant: For several years now people have had to avoid...
I Love Pentas Lanceolata aka Star Flower
Name: Pentas lanceolata aka star flower Type of Plant: Perennial in Zone 10 to 11 but an annual in most of the USA. Grows best in full sun. Why I Love This Plant: I love this annual because it attracts bees and butterflies, and the bright-colored flowers continue...
In Praise of Life Week – December 26th to 31st
Here we are, in the middle of the week between Christmas and the New Year. In most businesses, this is a commonly viewed as a pause in the action, if not, as some have named it, a “dead week.” But I welcome and embrace these days as a time of germination....
Making Ice Mobiles
When the temperatures are staying below freezing, it’s time to make ice mobiles! All you need are some pieces of your houseplants, some plastic cartons, some ribbon or string, and a bit of patience as they freeze. Even one ice mobile looks magical as it dances...
I Love Rosa ‘Meibenbino’ aka The Petite Knock Out Rose
Name: Rosa ‘Meibenbino’ aka The Petite Knock Out Rose Type of Plant: A miniature shrub rose with red flowers and the same ease and disease resistance of other plants in the Knock Out line from Star Roses and Plants. Why I Love This Plant: This rose bush only grows...
I Love Chlorophytum Comosum aka Spider Plant
Name: Chlorophytum comosum aka spider plant Type of Plant: A very common houseplant, probably because it’s easy to grow and propagate. Native to coastal South Africa, and found in solid green or variegated forms. This clump-forming plant produces long, trailing stems...
Filling Urns With Winter Branches
Last year I planted my urns with living plants such as hellebores, Osmanthus and ornamental cabbages, but this year I decided to go with sticks. Lots of sticks, in various colors. Although I grow both yellow and red twig dogwood in my gardens, I purchased the sticks...
I Love Impatiens capensis aka jewelweed
Name: Impatiens capensis aka jewelweed Type of Plant: A native annual plant (let’s not call it a weed) that grows 2 to 4 feet tall and flowers in mid-summer. Why I Love This Plant: I’ve grown to love this plant because the foliage is beautiful, the flowers are sweet,...
I Love Eruca sativa aka Eruca versicaria subsp. sativa, aka arugula or roquette
Name: Eruca sativa aka Eruca versicaria subsp. sativa, aka arugula or roquette Type of Plant: A leafy green annual grown for great taste and versatility in the kitchen. Why I Love This Plant: I love how arugula tastes, but beyond flavor, at this time of year I’m...