C. L. Fornari's Blog

I Love The Buckskin Pumpkin From Ball Seed

Type of Plant:  A medium size, eating pumpkin that was bred for a sweet, deep orange flesh. Why I Love This Plant: I was pleased when the good people at Ball Seed sent me this pumpkin plant to try. We planted it in a sunny garden where we were also growing butternut...

Christmas Merchandise so EARLY?

I work at a family owned, independent garden center, and yes, we start putting out Christmas merchandise in early October. I see posts on social media about how horrible it is that stores are displaying the holiday goods before Halloween, and I just wish that I could...

Dried Flower Fun

In September I was inspired by an article in BBC Gardener's World Magazine about a woman who dried dahlias. On a whim, I picked some of my dahlias and zinnias, and hung them upside down to dry. I added a stem of golden rod and some of the smooth hydrangeas (Hydrangea...
A Postcard Invitation…

A Postcard Invitation…

This postcard from The Green Man is celebrating my guest on The Garden Lady on February 29th. It is my great pleasure to be speaking with Ellen Zachos, author of Mythic Plants - Potions and Poisons from the Gardens of...

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Baked Cauliflower Cutlets

Baked Cauliflower Cutlets

Cauliflower is a versatile veggie that can go in any ethnic direction for flavoring, and can be used to create vegetarian main or side dishes. It...

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Knowing What Plants Do

I got a call yesterday from someone who was puzzled about some shrubs that weren't doing well. She called them "cherry laurels" (Prunus...

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A Well Mannered Violet

A Well Mannered Violet

In past posts I've made it clear that I don't want common violets (Viola odorata) on Poison Ivy Acres. I will periodically spot a flowering plant or...

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Naming A Property

Naming A Property

Martha Stewart's house in Maine is called Skylands, Oprah Winfrey calls her California property Promised Land, and the late Roald Dahl lived in...

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What We Treasure

What We Treasure

When I was going into the 7th grade my family moved from Muncie, Indiana to Stevens Point, Wisconsin. Instead of the one-day drive north, however,...

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Words To Live By

Words To Live By

There are times when we need to speak up, be bold, suggest new approaches and plant differently. It's not always appreciated, welcomed or accepted....

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I Love Gold Mop Cypress

I Love Gold Mop Cypress

Name:  Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘Golden Mop” aka gold mop cypress Type of Plant:  A needled, thread-leaf evergreen…or shall we say ever yellow-green....

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How Books Grow

How Books Grow

Many who follow this blog are also people who value books about gardening and beyond. First and foremost, this blog post is a thank you note. Garden...

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