I Love Bidens ferulifolia Goldilocks Rocks
Name: Bidens ferulifolia Goldilocks Rocks Type of Plant: An annual in northern climates that does best in full sun. You’ll find this plant wherever Proven Winners annuals are sold. Why I love This: This plant is easy, easy, easy….a drought tolerant annual that is...
Hairy Balls and Pollinators…You Can Grow That!
Has anyone ever told you to “grow a pair?” Well…why stop at just two? When it comes to balls, you can grow several and they can be hairy! And at the same time, you’ll be growing great material for cut-flower bouquets, attracting pollinators to...
Like A New Box of Crayons
Every spring as I contemplate what will be planted in Annual Alley this season, it’s like getting a new box of crayons. Which colors to use? Should I go with just a few complimentary shades, or should I go wild and dip into every color in the box? The...
In Praise of Seasonal Flowers
In Northern America we live in a time when we so often can ignore the seasons. The grocery stores sell strawberries, apples and asparagus twelve months a year so when you’re in the produce section you have no idea what season it is. Flowers too are hot-house...
I Love Marble Queen Pothos
Name: In part of the world this plant is called Scindapsus aureus. In North America it’s either Epipremnum pinnatum or Epipremnum aureus. Most of us just call it pothos. Or golden pothos, taro vine or silver vine. No matter what you call it, this is an easy to grow...
The Tallest Poppy
I am a fan of John Sandford’s novels, and am currently reading Rough Country (A Virgil Flowers Novel) . In this book Weather Davenport says, “Well, somebody’s got to be the tall poppy.” and Virgil Flowers, the protagonist in the book, has to...
What If This Plant Dies?
Plants Dying? It’s Part of The Adventure
If everything you did was a sure thing, how satisfying would that be? Isn’t part of the fun in trying new pursuits and activities not knowing how they will turn out? In many ways, being unsure about an outcome makes our efforts more of an adventure. Garden geeks...
Roasted Roots
I love roasted veggies, and this particular combination is easy, versatile and satisfying. Serve this plain as a side dish, or toss with tofu or crumbled feta for a main dish. Toss with pasta and the cheese of your choice. Use the leftovers at room temperature for a...