I Love Paperwhite Narcissus aka Narcissus papyraceus
Name: Paperwhite Narcissus aka Narcissus papyraceus Type of Plant: A fragrant variety of narcissus, bulbs that are easily forced and grown indoors at this time of year. Why I Love/Hate this plant: I love paper whites because they are fun to watch grow. In December,...
I Love The American Cranberry – Vaccinium macrocarpon
Name: The American Cranberry – Vaccinium macrocarpon Type of Plant: Not a plant that many people grow in their yards and gardens, but one that most are familiar with, especially at this time of year. This is a low-growing, trailing vine that many think of as a shrub....
I Love Pineapple Mint ~ Mentha suaveolens ‘Variegata’
Name: Pineapple mint aka Mentha suaveolens ‘Variegata’ Type of Plant: A pretty herb with white and green leaves. This mint grows quickly, so it’s perfect for a pot on your deck or patio. Why I Love/Hate this plant: I love how fresh looking this plant is, and I also...
I Love Smokebush, Cotinus x ‘Grace’
Name: Cotinus x ‘Grace’ aka Grace smoke bush Type of Plant: A large shrub that has colorful foliage and delicate “smoke-like” flowers. Why I Love/Hate this plant: I love this smoke bush because the leaves are colorful all season, and when it’s in flower it’s even...
I Love King Richard Leeks
Name: King Richard Leeks aka Allium porrum ‘King Richard’ Type of Plant: Leeks are a hardy biennial that we grow as an annual vegetable in the northeast. It’s in the genus Allium, so you know it’s related to other onions. Why I Love/Hate this plant: I love leeks...
I Love Callicarpa Purple Pearls
Name: Callicarpa Purple Pearls® aka Callicarpa x ‘NCCX1’ USPP 26,000 aka purple pearls beautyberry. Type of Plant: This is a beautyberry that is a deciduous shrub. It grows four to five feet tall and wide, and does the best in full sun. Hardy in zones 5-8....
I Love Variegated Boxwood
Name: Buxus sempervirens ‘Variegata’ aka variegated boxwood. Type of Plant: A slow growing evergreen shrub that does well in full sun to part shade. Hardy in Zones 5 to 9. Why I Love/Hate this plant: Any plant that has variegated foliage adds excitement...
Harvesting and Preserving Garden Leeks
That row of leeks we planted in June is now chock full of large plants that are ready to harvest. And I’m happy to cut many of them in mid-October, while leaving some to pick on a day-by-day basis for cooking dinner. Here is what I do with leeks in October. My...
I Love Salvia Elegans ‘Golden Delicious’
Name: Salvia elegans ‘Golden Delicious’ Type of Plant: This is an annual herb in my area, but a perennial in zones 8-11. Grow this plant in full sun, and enjoy the fruity fragrance of the foliage. Why I Love/Hate this plant: You say you want color in your yard and...