CL Fornari

I Love Variegated Boxwood

Oct 18, 2019 | Gardens, Love This!

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

Oct 13, 2019 | Food

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’

Oct 11, 2019 | Love This!

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...

I Love Verbena Bonariensis

Oct 5, 2019 | Love This!

Name: Verbena bonariensis aka tall verbena. Type of Plant: On the Cape and Islands this is a self-seeding tender perennial. In slightly colder places it’s a self-seeding annual, and in warmer climates a true perennial. Why I Love/Hate this plant: There’s so much to...

Mountain Magic Tomatoes…Great For Gardens and Pizza

Oct 2, 2019 | Food

I’ve long loved the Mountain Magic variety of tomato because it’s the most early blight resistant tomato that I’ve grown, and believe me, I’ve tried them all. In early October we are still picking many of these every day, although all the other...

I Love Cucamelons…Melothria scabra

Sep 27, 2019 | Love This!

Name: Melothria scabra aka Mexican sour gherkins, miniature watermelons, or cucamelons. Type of Plant: A delicate vine that’s grown for the tiny, cucumber-like fruits that resemble miniature watermelons. Why I Love/Hate this plant First of all, let me make this...

I Love Rosa Rugosa…in the right location

Sep 20, 2019 | Love This!

Name: Rosa rugosa aka the beach rose, Type of Plant: This thorny rose is well known in this area for being tough, having fragrant flowers in the summer, and large, pretty rose hips in the fall. Why I Love/Hate this plant: I love this plant when it grows on the dunes...

I Love Justicia carnea aka Brazilian plume flower.

Sep 13, 2019 | Gardens

Name: Justicia carnea aka Brazilian plume flower. Type of Plant: This is a shrub in tropical climates but an annual container plant for those who garden in the northeast. Why I Love/Hate this plant: This plant grows about two feet tall in a container and has huge...

Elevate Marigolds – An Annual Plant That Makes Me Happy

Aug 30, 2019 | Love This!

Name: Elevate Orange Marigold Hybrid Type of Plant: An annual marigold with huge, round flowers. Easy to grow from seed, and tall enough to make a statement in annual or perennial gardens. Why I Love/Hate this plant: This plant grows 3 to 4 feet tall and has been...

I Love the Sugar Shack Buttonbush

Aug 23, 2019 | Love This!

Looking for a shrub that’s fun, attracts butterflies and bees, and tolerates wet areas? Have I got a plant for you! Name: Cephalanthus occidentalis aka Sugar Shack Buttonbush Type of Plant: This is a shrub that’s native to North America. It tolerates wet areas,...