We had a lovely, large purple leaf beech tree (Fagus sylvatica 'Purpurea') that Dan and I planted in 2010. It grew beautifully, with one minor setback when a storm took down a nearby pitch pine that broke the current...
The Wishing Tree
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C. L. Fornari's Blog
In Praise of Life Week – December 26th to 31st
Here we are, in the middle of the week between Christmas and the New Year. In most businesses, this is a commonly viewed as a pause in the action,...
Making Ice Mobiles
When the temperatures are staying below freezing, it's time to make ice mobiles! All you need are some pieces of your houseplants, some plastic...
I Love Rosa ‘Meibenbino’ aka The Petite Knock Out Rose
Name: Rosa ‘Meibenbino’ aka The Petite Knock Out Rose Type of Plant: A miniature shrub rose with red flowers and the same ease and disease...
I Love Chlorophytum Comosum aka Spider Plant
Name: Chlorophytum comosum aka spider plant Type of Plant: A very common houseplant, probably because it’s easy to grow and propagate. Native to...
Filling Urns With Winter Branches
Last year I planted my urns with living plants such as hellebores, Osmanthus and ornamental cabbages, but this year I decided to go with sticks....
I Love Impatiens capensis aka jewelweed
Name: Impatiens capensis aka jewelweed Type of Plant: A native annual plant (let’s not call it a weed) that grows 2 to 4 feet tall and flowers in...
I Love Eruca sativa aka Eruca versicaria subsp. sativa, aka arugula or roquette
Name: Eruca sativa aka Eruca versicaria subsp. sativa, aka arugula or roquette Type of Plant: A leafy green annual grown for great taste and...
I Love Calendula Officinalis aka Pot Marigold
Name: Calendula officinalis aka pot marigold Type of Plant: Annual plant that has edible flowers, commonly growing 1 to 2 feet tall. This is not...
Still Loving Capsicum baccatum Mad Hatter F1 hybrid pepper
Name: Capsicum baccatum Mad Hatter F1 hybrid pepper Type of Plant: A vigorous pepper plant that grows well in northern areas and bears lots of...
I Love Fagus grandifolia aka American beech
Name: Fagus grandifolia aka American beech Type of Plant: A large tree that’s native to Eastern North America, with shiny dark green leaves in...
I Love Nicotiana mutabilis aka Nacotiana ‘Marshmallow’
Name: Nicotiana mutabilis aka Nacotiana ‘Marshmallow’ Type of Plant: An annual in colder climates, a perennial in Zones 8 to 10. Self-seeding,...
I Love, And Ask You To Appreciate, Prunus virginiana aka Choke Cherry
Name: Prunus virginiana aka choke cherry Type of Plant: A tree native to much of North America. It’s one of the most important trees for wildlife,...
I Love Comptonia peregrina aka Sweet Fern.
Name: Comptonia peregrina aka sweet fern. Type of Plant: A woody plant with a fern-like appearance, that’s a short, nitrogen fixing plant in the bay...
I Love Callicarpa Species and Hybrids, aka Beauty Berry
Name: Callicarpa species and hybrids, aka Beauty BerryType of Plant: A shrub that has soft foliage all year but struts its stuff in the fall. There...
I Love Narcissus poeticus aka Poets Narcissus
Name: Narcissus poeticus aka poets narcissus Type of Plant: This hardy, white narcissus aka daffodil is a bulb that gets planted in October on Cape...
I Love Parrot Tulips
Name: Parrot Tulips Type of Plant: Tulips with ruffled petals and often, multicolored flowers. Why I Love This Plant: These tulips have large,...
Garden Vegetable Pasta
One of the favorite dishes in my house is a pasta made with fresh vegetables from the garden. In this version, The basics of what we call "Summer...
I Love Basella alba, aka Malabar Spinach
Name: Basella alba, aka Malabar Spinach Type of Plant: A fast growing, soft-stemmed vine that can reach 8 to 10 feet in one summer season. Not a...