C. L. Fornari's Blog

I Love Hydrangea macrophylla × serrata ‘SMNHSI’ aka Let’s Dance Can Do!®

Name: Hydrangea macrophylla × serrata 'SMNHSI' aka Let's Dance Can Do!® Type of Plant: This is a hybrid of a bigleaf-hydrangea and a mountain hydrangea, so you get the advantages of both. It will grow about three feet tall and wide, and is best planted in part sun to...

I Love Salvia guaranitica ‘Black and Blue’

Name: Salvia guaranitica ‘Black and Blue’ Type of Plant:  An annual salvia that has blue flowers, bright green leaves and black calyces. Why I Love This Plant:  I love this plant for three reasons. First, it’s a hummingbird magnet. Secondly, the flowers are a clear...

I Love Veronicastrum virginicum aka Culver’s Root

Name:   Veronicastrum virginicum aka Culver’s Root Type of Plant:  A perennial native to North America that is important to pollinators and attracts a variety of beneficial insects. It’s a tall plant that should be placed at the back of a perennial garden in full sun....
Broccoli Makes Tiny Heads

Broccoli Makes Tiny Heads

"My broccoli only produces small heads!" many of my radio callers say. "What's wrong?"  New gardeners also ask about their broccoli producing lots...

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Garden Rooms

Garden Rooms

Last night it was great fun to be the guest host of #gardenchat on Twitter. If you're not familiar with it, this is a world-wide conversation about...

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I Love Golden Rain Tree

I Love Golden Rain Tree

Name: Koelreuteria paniculata - aka the golden rain tree Type of Plant: A fairly fast growing shade tree, hardy in zone 6-9, that’s known for nice...

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Flower Report Mid-August

I love the Sunday night #FlowerReport that is hosted by @alyssaharad. Sometimes there are so many people posting pictures of what's in bloom in...

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Zucchini Lasagna

Zucchini Lasagna

In summer squash season there are many yummy ways to cook your garden produce. One way is to use summer squash instead of lasagna noodles. You...

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I Love Rudbeckia triloba

I Love Rudbeckia triloba

Name:  Rudbeckia triloba Type of Plant: A tall, biennial, or short-lived perennial black-eyed Susan with small, cheerful flowers. This plant may...

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Mixed Greens Pesto Pizza

Mixed Greens Pesto Pizza

In the summer vegetable season there are so many possibilities when you go into garden and ask, "What's for dinner?" One of my favorites is to make...

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What is Deadheading?

What is Deadheading?

How do I deadhead my plants? And why? I discussed deadheading last week on The Garden Lady and later in the program a caller remarked that it was...

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