CL Fornari

Timetable for Starting Seeds on the Cape and Islands

Mar 28, 2021 | Gardens

Indoors under lights or in a very sunny window: February-March: Peppers. March-April: Tomatoes, eggplant, kale, broccoli, cannabis. (The earlier you start these seeds, the better lighting you will need. Keep plants about 3” from lights so they don’t get too leggy. A...

I Love Corydalis lutea – aka Yellow Corydalis

Mar 26, 2021 | Love This!

Name: Corydalis lutea – aka Yellow Corydalis Type of Plant: A short-lived perennial with soft, ferny foliage and bright yellow flowers that bloom for most of the summer. Hardy in Zone 5 to 7. Why I Love/Hate this plant: Yes, it’s short lived, but it’s worth growing!...

Kerria japonica aka Japanese Kerria

Mar 19, 2021 | Love This!

Name: Kerria japonica aka Japanese Kerria Type of Plant: This is a shrub with bright green stems and bright yellow flowers that is hardy in Zones 4-9. In most areas this plant grows to about 5 feet tall and 8 feet wide. Some have single flowers, but ‘Pleniflora’ is a...

My Personal Sign That It’s Spring

Mar 13, 2021 | Gardens

Recently, on a local gardening group Facebook page, I posted a photo of a skunk cabbage flower poking up out of the soil. I said that this was how I knew it was spring. Then I asked others to comment about their personal signs of spring. I distilled their comments to...

Plant A Tabletop Spring Garden

Mar 13, 2021 | Projects/Crafts

Let’s face it. Often spring is a tease. “I’m here! I’m gone! I’m back…wait, not yet!” We are bounced from 60° days to 15° nights in a blink of an eye, so we must savor the outdoors when we can, and provide our own spring cheer...

I Love Narcissus ‘Tête-à-tête’

Mar 12, 2021 | Love This!

Name: Narcissus ‘Tête-à-tête’ aka tete-a-tete miniature daffodils Type of Plant: This early flowering spring bulb is a mini-daffodil that is commonly sold in pots at garden centers in the early spring. Why I Love/Hate this plant: I love how this plant is widely...

I Love the Weeping Alaska Cedar

Mar 5, 2021 | Love This!

Name: Weeping Alaska Cedar, aka Xanthocyparis nootkatensis ‘Pendula’, formerly known as Chamaecyparis nootkatensis ‘Pendula’ (and oh my goodness there’s another genus name in the works. For now, I’m sticking with these while I hope the madness stops.) Type...

I Love Alchemilla mollis, aka Lady’s Mantle

Feb 26, 2021 | Love This!

Name: Alchemilla mollis, aka Lady’s Mantle Type of Plant: This is a herbaceous perennial plant that grows in sun or part-shade and is hardy in Zones 3 to 8. Why I Love/Hate this plant: I love lady’s mantle for so many reasons! It’s easy to grow, adaptable to a variety...

How To Grow Blue Hydrangeas

Feb 24, 2021 | Gardens

I was doing a Zoom presentation for a group last week, and one of the questions from an attendee was about his blue hydrangea. “It never flowers,” he said, “no matter what we do.” Since this group was from all over the country, I asked him...

I Love Cilantro, aka Coriander, aka Coriandrum sativum

Feb 19, 2021 | Love This!

Name: cilantro, aka coriander, aka Coriandrum sativum Type of Plant: An annual herb used around the world in a variety of dishes. Why I Love/Hate this plant: I love that this herb is used in so many types of cuisine. To me, guacamole wouldn’t be guacamole without...