C. L. Fornari's Blog

I Love Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Jelena’ aka  Jelena Witch Hazel

Name:  Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Jelena’ aka  ‘Jelena’ Witch Hazel Type of Plant: A large shrub that flowers in February. Why I Love This Plant: Like other varieties of witch hazel, ‘Jelena’ flowers in the winter. It’s especially beautiful when the flowers are lit by...

I Love Cypripedium acaule aka Lady Slipper Orchid

Name:  Cypripedium acaule aka Lady Slipper Orchid Type of Plant: Native ground orchid that thrives in damp woodland and acidic soils Why I Love This Plant:     The more you know about the lady slipper orchid, the more there is to wonder about and admire. First of all,...

I Love Spotted Wintergreen aka Chimaphila maculata

Name:  Spotted Wintergreen aka Chimaphila maculata  Type of Plant: First of all we need to sort through the common names which are Striped Prince's Pine, Spotted Wintergreen, Pipsissewa, Spotted Pipsissewa, Ratsbane, Rheumatism Root, and Striped Wintergreen. Yikes!...
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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