A Tree That Flowers in Fall
Name: Franklinia alatamaha – aka the Franklin tree Type of Plant: Small tree or multi-stemmed large shrub that’s hardy in zone 5 – 8. This plant grows 8 to 20 feet tall and 6 to 15 feet wide depending on climate and location. This is a great full sun to part-sun plant...
A Small Vine For The Edible Landscape
Name: Basella rubra aka Malabar spinach Type of Plant: A tropical vine that can grow to about 6 feet tall in one growing season. Although this is not really a spinach, it has leaves that taste and cook up like that leafy vegetable, hence the common name. Why I love...
Hydrangea paniculata ‘Grandiflora’ – a classic large shrub
Name: Hydrangea paniculata ‘Grandiflora’ aka peegee hydrangea, or panicle hydrangea. Type of Plant: A large growing shrub – one of the first cultivars in the paniculata group of hydrangeas. These are hardy plants that grow well in full to part sun. And they will grow...
Oh Happy Day…the Tomato, Not The Song
Name: Oh Happy Day Hybrid Tomato from Burpee Type of Plant: A “junior beefstake” type tomato. Indeterminate, 4-5 oz fruit (in other words, medium size – perfect for two sandwiches etc.) Good flavor and heavy production. Why I love this: As those who grow tomatoes in...
Why Isn’t My Moonflower Blooming?
Like many others, I plant moonflower (Ipomoea alba) in the early summer to fill a small trellis with a quickly growing annual vine. I anticipate the large, round and fragrant flowers, but most of the summer goes by without any sign of a bloom. I’m not alone. I...
A Plant That Plays Well With Others
Name: Rudbeckia subtomentosa ‘Henry Eilers’ aka quilled petal black-eyed Susan Type of Plant: This is a perennial that’s native to the USA. This named cultivar was found growing in the wild in Illinois and it typically grows 3 to 5 feet tall. Why I love this: I’m fond...
A Perennial for Pollinators, Butterflies and Bouquets
Imagine: Emma gazed out over the field in front of their new house. “Honey, wouldn’t it be great to plant a butterfly meadow out there?” she asked. Rob turned to look at what was now a huge expanse of lawn. “If it means that we don’t...
Wonderful Sambucus aka Elderberry
Imagine: This week’s story is true. Yesterday I went up to the large elderberry bush at the top of our cutting garden. This year’s berry production was particularly large, and I wanted to take advantage of this so that Ellen Zachos and I could use the...
The Cocktail Hour ~ Farmed & Foraged
You are invited to join Ellen Zachos and me at a special in-the-garden event on August 27th, 2017. Download a printable PDF here.