Native Groundcover For Wet Areas
Name: Chrysogonum virginianum ~ aka goldenstar, or green and gold Type of Plant: Low growing perennial for part shade to full shade that flowers heavily in May and sporadically through the rest of the summer. Why I Love/Hate this plant: I love Chrysogonum because it’s...
I Love Ornamental Cabbages and Kales
Name: Ornamental Cabbages and Kales Type of Plant: Annuals for planting in the fall that will last and be colorful (in most areas) into January. Why I Love/Hate this plant: I love ornamental cabbages and kales because they add great color and last so long in the...
I Love The Brown Turkey Fig
Name: Ficus carica ‘Brown Turkey Type of Plant: This fig tree is one of the hardiest but it best grown in pots in the Northeast if you want to harvest figs. Why I Love/Hate this plant: An easy plant to grow as long as you’re willing to pull the pot into a garage...
A Thornless Blackberry For Trellises, Arbors and Buildings
Imagine: A trellis or arbor filled with long canes filled with small, pinkish white flowers in June…but the fun doesn’t stop with the flowers – in August that same structure is dripping with blackberries…and not a thorn to be seen. Name: Rubus Doyles Thornless...
A Fantastic Angelonia For Gardens And Containers
Imagine: Call me picky, but when I plant an annual in late May I want it to still be looking good in September…maybe even into October. I’m willing to give it continual fertilization. I’m willing to deadhead it once. (Maybe more often if I’m feeling attentive, but I’d...
Shoot For The Moon by Growing Moonflowers
Name: Ipomoea alba, aka moonflower Type of Plant: A fast growing annual vine for sun and part-sun. Why I Love/Hate this plant: If you want an annual vine that will quickly create a privacy screen for the summer, this plant is for you. If you wish for a plant that will...
A Splendid September Self-Seeder
As I walked through the gardens with my coffee this morning, what caught my eye were tall Gomphocarpus physocarpus plants in the cutting garden. These are some of my regular “party crashers,” self-seeding in the same area every year, and delighting me with...
Plants and Morning Coffee: Variegated Sea Hibiscus
It is often my habit to take my morning coffee outside in the morning and see what catches my eye. Today, it was Hibiscus tiliaceus variegata, aka Mahoe or variegated sea hibiscus, or seaside Mahoe. This plant is worth growing as a container plant, bringing it inside...
Is A Beautiful Garden Only For the Wealthy?
This question was recently posted on the Cape Cod Gardening Group page, and I thought it was a great query. “Curious: have seen many beautiful properties in this group and am wondering: do most of the people who post here have 1+ acre lots and a fair amount of...