The common lilac varieties can grow 10 to 15 feet tall and wide, so place them where they can grow large. Lilacs make a good addition to a mixed shrub border in full sun. If a lilac is in too much shade it won't flower...
Name: Nepeta racemosa ‘Walkers Low aka walkers low catmint Type of Plant: A perennial for full sun that flowers from late-May into July in the...
Last week I returned home after being with my mother at the end of her life. It was, of course, a time of great sadness and reflection. Once home,...
Name: Hemerocallis ‘South Seas’ aka the South Seas daylily Type of Plant: A perennial for full sun that flowers from mid-July into August. Hardy in...
The area under a bird feeder is a heavily traveled zone. Birds, squirrels, chipmunks, fox and wild turkeys are routinely seen under my feeder and...
Last May I had the pleasure of being in P. Allen Smith's gardens at Moss Mountain. (Bucket list advice: attend a workshop or go on one of his open...
This is the time of year when many of my callers/clients are asking "What's wrong with my_______?" Fill in the blank with the vegetable plant of...
Name: Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Center Glow’ aka the center glow ninebark. Type of Plant: A large, fountain shaped shrub that’s hardy in zones 2–8....
Here are the plants that are catching my eye at Poison Ivy Acres the first week of June. In June a garden...
I cook spaghetti squash in the microwave. And I think it's especially tasty (and easy!) when served with mushrooms, some sort of onion, olive oil...
As perennial plant gardeners, one of the things we learn over time is how each plant behaves. There are perennials that look great before and after...
Name: Cardinal vine or cardinal creeper aka Ipomoea x multifida Type of Plant: An annual vine for full sun to grow on small trellises or other...
One of the most enjoyable aspects of early summer is designing displays of annual flowers in containers. Today's post is about the pots I've planted...
I had two cups of leftover wild rice last week, and in using it up I created some cakes that I will be sure to make again. In fact, I realized that...
I've often compared the garden to a party. We are blessed when we're not depending on our landscape to provide all of our winter food, so why not...
Name: Bidens Campfire™ Fireburst (aka Bidens hybrid 'KOIBID1346') Type of Plant: This is a long-flowering annual from Proven Winners that...
We're all familiar with the saying, "Leaves of three, let it be." But the reality is that there are many plants with sets of three leaves that we...
One of the joys of cooking and having an assortment of fresh ingredient on hand is stumbling on fantastic flavor combinations. I found one this week...
May is a magical month in the garden. If you haven't been a tourist in your own yard recently, go out into the landscape with new eyes. Pretend...