Best Hardy Fall Mum…Dendranthema
Name: Dendranthema – aka Chrysanthemum or even perennial daisy mums. Whatever you call them, they are bone-hardy, dependable plants. Varieties commonly grown include Cambodian Queen (lavender), Sheffield Pink (pink), Autumn Moon (pale yellow) Mary Stoker (yellow to...
Plants and Pop Culture: Hydrangea macrophylla
As I mentioned in a previous post, I’ve been concerned that plants and gardening seem to be completely ignored by popular culture. Is it because the greenery is getting buried in a rain of digital devices? Is the garden getting dissed as being a place only for “girls...
Winter Squash & French Lentils
We have an abundance of winter squash from the garden…butternut, honey nut, and winter sweet. Fortunately, there are many ways to prepare these fruits that are commonly thought of as a vegetable. We use them in soups and stews. We roast cubes or puree after...
Great Garden Bloggers
Need reading material for a rainy or winter day? Want large amounts of inspiration and plant information? Have I got a blog for you…well, several of them, actually. I recently posted on the GWA: The Association for Garden Communicators Facebook page asking...
I Love Variegated Spreading Salmon Sunpatiens
Name: Variegated Spreading Salmon Sunpatiens Type of Plant: This variety of Sunpatiens forms a nice rounded plant that grows about 18” high and 20” wide. The yellow and green foliage perfectly offset the salmon colored flowers. Why I love this plant: The bold foliage...
Plants and Pop Culture: Franklinia alatamaha
When we were listing the Plantrama podcast on iTunes, I was surprised to see that there was no category such as “Home and Garden.” In fact, there was no good category for plants at all. Pretty shocking, considering that our very life depends on those that...
Fall Window Box Ideas
I don’t have boxes under the windows of my house, but I did plant two boxes that were on the front porch for the summer. I had two identical metal boxes, and two “vintage style” wire baskets that I thought worked well together. So I put the boxes on...
A Bold Burst of Color In The Fall
Imagine: “My perennial garden looks bare and empty by September,” he said. “It doesn’t have to be that way,” she said. “Don’t talk to me about fall-flowering perennials,” he said, “I don’t have room for any more plants.” “Not true,” she said. “You just don’t have room...
What Should I Do With All These Leaves?
I’ve gotten a couple of emails recently from people who are already dreading the annual leaf drop on their property. One man was tired of paying to have the leaves hauled away. Another couple wondered if there was an easier way to compost the leaves than putting...