CL Fornari

April Fools Posts From Years Past

Mar 31, 2020 | Lifestuff

April 1, 2019 Stevens Point, WI A feud between neighboring plant lovers threatens the day/night cycle for hundreds of people in central Wisconsin. The dispute all started when April Loof, a well known garden writer in the region, decided to plant sunflowers...

Essential

Mar 29, 2020 | Lifestuff

We’re hearing a great deal about who and what is essential. Here are some of my thoughts…

I Love Pieris japonica ‘Dorothy Wycoff’

Mar 27, 2020 | Love This!

Name: Pieris japonica ‘Dorothy Wycoff’ aka Dorothy Wycoff Andromeda Type of Plant: A shrub for shade and part shade that flowers in early spring. Native to Japan and Eastern China, hardy in USD Zones 5 to 8. Why I Love/Hate this plant: I love Pieris japonica as long...

Dairy Free Nut Cookies

Mar 23, 2020 | Food

If you like soft, rich cookies such as the classic Mexican wedding cakes, you’ll love these cookies. This is a vegan recipe. Preheat oven to 350 degrees f. and cover a cookie sheet with parchment paper. 1 cup regular flour 1 cup almond flour ½ teaspoon baking...

I Love Sedum Album Coral Carpet

Mar 20, 2020 | Love This!

Name: Sedum album ‘Coral Carpet’ Type of Plant: This is a low stonecrop sedum, perfect for planting in between flagstones and in rock gardens. Hardy in zones 3 to 9, this succulent is drought tolerant and grows even in very poor but well drained soils. Why I Love/Hate...

Planting Opportunities in the Time of COVID-19

Mar 15, 2020 | Lifestuff

Events are being canceled, schools are closing, and many are being encouraged to work from home. For a few days or weeks people are finding themselves with blocks of time that they’d planned to use to be at meetings, go to concerts, or attend other presentations. Many...

I Love the Fire Light Hydrangea

Mar 13, 2020 | Love This!

Name: Hydrangea paniculata Fire Light aka the Fire Light Hydrangea Type of Plant: A medium to large shrub that flowers from late July until hard frost. Grow this hydrangea in full sun to part sun. Why I Love/Hate this plant: This panicle hydrangea flowers on new...

I Love Deutzia gracilis Chardonnay Pearls

Mar 7, 2020 | Love This!

Name: Deutzia gracilis Chardonnay Pearls aka chardonnay pearls deutzia Type of Plant: This is a small shrub that has bright yellow foliage in the spring and early summer, and lime green leaves from mid-summer to fall. In late spring into early summer it’s also filled...

I Love Ripsalis salicornioides aka drunkards dream, bottle cactus, or dancing bones.

Feb 21, 2020 | Love This!

Name: Ripsalis salicornioides aka drunkard’s dream, bottle cactus, or dancing bones. Also known as Hatiora. Type of Plant: An epiphyte that is native to eastern Brazil. This plant is easy to grow as a houseplant or in a container outside in the summer time....

I Love Oxalis triangularis aka false shamrock

Feb 15, 2020 | Love This!

Name: Oxalis triangularis aka false shamrock Type of Plant: These are bulbs that are commonly sold as houseplants in February and March. People associate it with Saint Patrick’s Day, and it’s easy for the growers to bring it into flower at this time of year. Note that...