When we plant our gardens, it's helpful to ask ourselves, "Who does it feed?" Most of your perennials, shrubs, and trees are hopefully feeding wildlife. Some of your plants might also be feeding the soil. If you're...
Need reading material for a rainy or winter day? Want large amounts of inspiration and plant information? Have I got a blog for you...well, several...
Name: Variegated Spreading Salmon Sunpatiens Type of Plant: This variety of Sunpatiens forms a nice rounded plant that grows about 18” high and 20”...
When we were listing the Plantrama podcast on iTunes, I was surprised to see that there was no category such as “Home and Garden.” In fact, there...
I don't have boxes under the windows of my house, but I did plant two boxes that were on the front porch for the summer. I had two identical metal...
Imagine: “My perennial garden looks bare and empty by September,” he said. “It doesn’t have to be that way,” she said. “Don’t talk to me about...
I've gotten a couple of emails recently from people who are already dreading the annual leaf drop on their property. One man was tired of paying to...
Imagine: Talk about a love/hate relationship! Yes, I have one with this rose. Name: Rosa rugosa aka rugosa rose or beach rose Type of Plant: A...
There are times when the garden produces a little of this and a little of that. In the fall, I pick about a cup or two of small sprouts (tiny heads)...
In the fall the dahlia's are the best flowers in the cutting garden. But even as they are in their glory, it's time to think about saving them...
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...
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...
Name: Hydrangea paniculata ‘Grandiflora’ aka peegee hydrangea, or panicle hydrangea. Type of Plant: A large growing shrub – one of the first...
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...
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...
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...
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....
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...
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.