C. L. Fornari's Blog

I Love Ceratostigma plumbagionoides aka blue leadwort or plumbago.

Name:  Ceratostigma plumbagionoides aka blue leadwort or hardy plumbago.   Type of Plant: a low-growing, perennial ground cover hardy in zones 6-9. Dies to the ground in the winter. Why I Love this Plant: First of all, this perennial is later to emerge in the spring,...

At The John Hay Writing Studio – September 2024

When I arrived at the John Hay Writing Studio, I was shown a book where those who used the space could write about their experiences. My entry on day 4 was short. Apologies. While I understand how wonderful it is to have something written in a writer’s hand, I also...

I Love Malibu Green Beans

Name:    Malibu Green Beans Type of Plant: Pole beans that are especially prolific. Why I Love this Plant: You can pick these beans when they are young, skinny and tender or let them grow larger. Their flavor remains good no matter what their size. I love how the...
Grace and the Unexpected

Grace and the Unexpected

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,...

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In Praise of Alliums

In Praise of Alliums

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...

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Early June In Bloom

Early June In Bloom

Here are the plants that are catching my eye at Poison Ivy Acres the first week of June.           In June a garden...

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Browning Allium Foliage

Browning Allium Foliage

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...

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Wild Rice Kale Cakes

Wild Rice Kale Cakes

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...

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Early Blight on Tomatoes

Early Blight on Tomatoes

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...

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Is This Poison Ivy

Is This Poison Ivy

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...

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