98% of the plants featured here are plants I love. I’ve hated a couple in the past, but this week, but hate is a pretty strong word. Today, I’m talking about a plant that I never recommend to others. I’ve grown it in a...
Name: Myrica pensylvanica aka bayberry Type of Plant: Native shrub or small tree for full sun and sandy soils Why I Love/Hate this plant: In dry...
As a speaker and a plant geek, I present programs to garden clubs, horticultural societies, and assorted other groups. Many of these organizations...
Name: Variegated forms of Impatiens hawkeri aka New Guinea Impatiens Type of Plant: Low-maintenance annual that grows to about 12 inches tall. Why I...
Name: Buddleja davidii 'SMNBDBT' aka Pugster dwarf butterfly bush. Type of Plant: A dwarf butterfly bush that blooms prolifically through the...
Name: Dolichos lablab ‘Silver Moon’ aka Lablab purpureus ‘Silver Moon’ Type of Plant: A fast growing annual vine that you can grow from seed. Why I...
Yesterday I spent about an hour touring our property and taking a photo of every plant that was in bloom. Okay, not every plant, and not every...
Name: Mecardonia GoldDust Type of Plant: An annual from Proven Winners that is heat tolerant, long-flowering, and totally low-maintenance. This...
This morning I was on Mindy Todd's program on WCAI/NAN, and mentioned a few things that were making me happy. Here are some of those plants and more...
Name: Pycnanthemum muticum aka clustered mountain mint Type of Plant: Spreading perennial that is hardy in zones 4 to 8 and appreciates moist or...
Name: Rutgers Obsession DMR and Rutgers Devotion DMR Basil Type of Plant: Basil plants that have been bred (no, not GMO!) to grow prolifically and...
In the 1970's my mother-in-law, Misa Fornari, lived on Long Island. A friend of hers was a rep for various artists and crafts people, and at some...
Name: Cosmos sulphureus 'Bright Lights' aka sulphur cosmos. Type of Plant: Summer-flowering annual for full sun. Why I Love/Hate this plant...
One of the gifts that the pandemic brought to my house is the return to making our own sushi rolls. In the early months of not shopping much I found...
Sometime ago I put up the graphic posted below, about how I came to be a garden communicator. Although I've always loved plants and gardens, it...
In this area the garlic is commonly pulled from the garden in early July. We bundle ours up and hang it in our shed for two to three weeks to cure,...
Name: Hydrangea macrophylla 'Ragra' aka Cityline® Rio Type of Plant: This mophead hydrangea is a shorter-growing plant that stays under 3 feet...
Name: Soiree Kawaii Catharanthus Type of Plant: Catharanthus is more commonly known as flowering vinca, although this is confusing since there...
Name: Rosa 'ZLEMarianne Yoshida' aka Oso Easy Petit Pink landscape rose. Type of Plant: A shrub rose that stays under 4 feet and is repeat...