I Love Weigela florida ‘Variegata’
Name: Weigela florida ‘Variegata’ aka the variegated weigela. Type of Plant: Weigelas are easy to grow, low maintenance shrubs for full sun. Note that the “florida” part of it’s botanical name isn’t referring to the state, but to the number of flowers that the shrub...
In Praise of Chopped Salad
I love a chopped salad. There are any number of ingredients you can use to create a side dish or a main meal. And with a few staples in the freezer, cupboard and garden, “chopped salad” can be a healthy and delicious answer to the question “What’s for dinner.” The key...
A Plant For Gardening Large
Imagine: Having a garden where large, mauve flowers blow in the breeze and butterflies flit among the blooms. Going native? Go big. Name: Eupatorium purpureum aka Joe Pye Weed Type of Plant: Native perennial plant that grows well in full sun. Why I love this plant:...
Google’s Plant-to-English Translation Service
It has been well known that plants communicate with each other through the release of volatile organic compounds, along with various chemicals and pheromones. Additionally, plants pass information through an extensive network of soil fungi. But until recently there...
Chard: Many Reasons to Love
Imagine: “Spinach doesn’t grow well for me,” he said. “No matter,” she responded, “there’s a better vegetable we can grow.” “Yes?” he asked, hopefully. “Yes,” she responded, confidently. “Chard…and it’s easy to grow from seeds.” Name: Chard, aka Swiss chard,...
I Love Philadelphus x virginalis aka mock orange
Imagine: You’re sitting under the arbor, surrounded by potted plants. It’s a mild June evening, and as you relax into your chair you catch a sweet fragrance that smells like orange blossoms. You smile, knowing without turning around that the Philadelphus is back in...
I Love Supertunia® Picasso in Blue®
Imagine: “I’m in the mood for something different in our window boxes this year,” he said. “Purple, lime green and white,” she said. “You can never go wrong with purple,” he agreed. Name: Supertunia® Picasso in Blue® aka Petunia hybrid ‘USTUN75102’ Type of...
I Love A “Delicious Monster” Plant
Imagine: You can tell that Monstera deliciosa is a hot plant right now…not many houseplants have their own hashtags. Perhaps this is a signal that tropicals are indeed “the new succulents.” Maybe it’s a case of everything old being new again…I remember the days...
DIY Wedding Flowers
I had a conversation with someone today who needed options for a DIY wedding. I told her about my book on the topic of garden weddings, of course, but then we went on to talk about other options. I realized that I had photos that others might get inspired by. So here...