Pycnanthemum muticum aka clustered mountain mint
Name: Pycnanthemum muticum aka clustered mountain mint Type of Plant: Spreading perennial that is hardy in zones 4 to 8 and appreciates moist or at least consistently watered soil in full sun to part shade. Why I Love/Hate this plant This perennial is commonly...
I Love Rutgers Devotion and Rutgers Obsession Basil
Name: Rutgers Obsession DMR and Rutgers Devotion DMR Basil Type of Plant: Basil plants that have been bred (no, not GMO!) to grow prolifically and be resistant to downy mildew. Rutgers Devotion: Genovese type with a compact, but highly productive plant habit. Leaves...
When Life Mingles With Art
In the 1970’s my mother-in-law, Misa Fornari, lived on Long Island. A friend of hers was a rep for various artists and crafts people, and at some point she gave Misa a very small painting of a zucchini. It was a sample she had shown to stores and galleries, and...
I Love Cosmos sulphureus ‘Bright Lights’
Name: Cosmos sulphureus ‘Bright Lights’ aka sulphur cosmos. Type of Plant: Summer-flowering annual for full sun. Why I Love/Hate this plant It’s no secret that I love a good splash of orange in the summer garden, especially when it’s combined with...
Garden Sushi With Flower Power
One of the gifts that the pandemic brought to my house is the return to making our own sushi rolls. In the early months of not shopping much I found nori wrappers, pickled ginger and a tube of wasabi in our pantry, and knew we had avocados and cucumbers in the...
Love Plants and Gardens? Want to Write, Speak, or Podcast About It?
Sometime ago I put up the graphic posted below, about how I came to be a garden communicator. Although I’ve always loved plants and gardens, it wasn’t my intention of being a professional in that area until we moved to Cape Cod in 1993. It was in that...
Preserving Home Grown Garlic
In this area the garlic is commonly pulled from the garden in early July. We bundle ours up and hang it in our shed for two to three weeks to cure, keeping the shed doors and windows open to allow good air circulation. After the heads begin to become papery, we cut...
I Love Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Ragra’ aka Cityline® Rio
Name: Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Ragra’ aka Cityline® Rio Type of Plant: This mophead hydrangea is a shorter-growing plant that stays under 3 feet tall and grows about 3 feet wide. Why I Love/Hate this plant How do I love this hydrangea? Let me count the...
I Love Soiree Kawaii™ Catharanthus
Name: Soiree Kawaii Catharanthus Type of Plant: Catharanthus is more commonly known as flowering vinca, although this is confusing since there are other perennial groundcovers and common window box greenery known by the same name. Could we all just agree to call...