C. L. Fornari's Blog
How To Stake Flopping Peonies and Hydrangeas
Here is a method for staking peonies and hydrangeas: both have very large flowers, and these blooms can pull the stems down, especially after a...
My Gardens During the 2022 Cape Cod Hydrangea Festival
My gardens are open from 10 AM to 4 PM on Sunday July 10th, Monday July 11th and Wednesday the 13th. Cost is $5 per person, with proceeds going to...
I Love Lysimachia punctata aka Circle Flower
Name: Lysimachia punctata aka circle flower or yellow loosestrife. Type of Plant: A very hardy perennial for sunny gardens that flowers in...
Cape Cod Hydrangea Festival
It's almost here! The Cape Cod Hydrangea Festival is a celebration of summer gardens. There are open private gardens and events Cape-wide. I'm doing...
I Love Persicaria polymorpha aka Giant Fleece Flower
Name: Persicaria polymorpha aka Giant Fleece Flower Type of Plant: A large, June-flowering perennial that’s hardy in Zones 4 to 9. Why I Love This...
I Love Physocarpus Sweet Cherry Tea
Name: Physocarpus Sweet Cherry Tea Type of Plant: A type of ninebark shrub that has dark purple-to-bronze foliage and pinkish/white flowers in...
Clam Baskets In The Garden
I originally published some of these decorated clam basket photos on my former blog at CoffeeForRoses.com. I thought to revisit this today when I...
I Love Cuphea Vermillionaire or ‘David Verity’ aka cigar plant
Name: Cuphea Vermillionaire or ‘David Verity’ aka cigar plant Type of Plant: Annuals in the Northeast, that are hummingbird magnets. Why I Love...
I Love Aquilegia vulgaris aka Columbine
Name: Aquilegia vulgaris aka Columbine Type of Plant: A short-lived perennial native to Europe that becomes naturalized in gardens and wild areas....
I Love Erigeron pulchellus ‘Meadow Muffin’
Name: Erigeron pulchellus ‘Meadow Muffin’ aka meadow muffin Robin’s plantain Type of Plant: This is a perennial plant that has low, grounding...
That Dead Tree Is Important
Human beings are an interesting species. We tend to screw things up, and then get busy trying to help creatively repair the damage. Next, we pat...
Malus x ‘Snowdrift’ aka Snowdrift Crabapple
Name: Malus x 'Snowdrift' aka Snowdrift Crabapple Type of Plant: A small tree (up to 20 feet) that’s hardy in Zone 4-8. Why I Love This Plant:...
Recipe Inspirations – Chickpea Pancake from Bon Appétit Magazine
From Milk Street Cooking Magazine to Bon Appétit Magazine, I love cooking publications. Hard copies, that provide recipes and photos, that you can...
Name: Rhododendron ‘Calsap’ Type of Plant: A Rhododendron that was a cross between ‘Catalgla’ and ‘Sappho’ which produced a plant that’s hardy to...
I Love Mandevilla, the Plant Artist Formerly Known as Dipladenia
Name: Mandevilla cultivars and hybrids, especially the shorter varieties formerly known as Dipladenia Type of Plant: Back in the day, there were...
I Love Hyacinthoides hispanica aka Spanish bluebells, or wood hyacinths
Name: Hyacinthoides hispanica aka Spanish bluebells, or wood hyacinths Type of Plant: A late-spring blooming bulb. There are white, pink and blue...
How To Prune or Renovate Knockout and Other Shrub Roses
"My knockout is out of control!" a reader told me. "How do I prune it?" Knockouts are one of the many varieties of shrub or landscape roses, and...
Pruning Mophead and Lacecap Hydrangeas
I pruned one of my lacecap hydrangeas yesterday. It's been a warm April - especially for Cape Cod - and one of my shrubs had leaves opening so that...