C. L. Fornari's Blog
I Love Tropical Hibiscus
Name: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis aka tropical hibiscus Type of Plant: This is a shrub in warmer climates, but a tropical container plant for those of...
Horticultural Hotline: Money DOES Grow on Trees!
In a news conference today three of the countries largest growers of ornamental plants jointly announced the release of a new species and cultivar...
What To Do With Leftover Spiral Ham
Did you have a spiral ham for Easter? As good as this is, ham is a rich, salty meat and a little goes a long way. Here's a recipe for making ham...
Planting Bare Root Peonies
When I spoke at the Boston Flower Show recently I stopped by the Peony's Envy booth. I'd chatted with Kathleen Gagan on The Garden Lady earlier in...
I Love Lenten Rose Hellebores
Name: Helleborus orientalis aka Lenten rose hellebore. Type of Plant: This is a perennial that is evergreen and grows best in part shade to full...
Fresh, Fast, Vegan and Delicious
You want to eat a healthy, vegetable based diet but there are some days when you also need your meal to be easy and fast…while remaining fresh. Let...
Early Spring Garden Helps
Some of my callers to The Garden Lady have asked, "What should I be doing this early in the spring?" When the season is just beginning it's...
I Love Iris Reticulata
Name: Iris reticulata Type of Plant: This is one of the first spring bulbs to bloom, often in flower at the same time as crocus but just before...
Getting Rid of Moss in The Lawn And Garden
In honor of Saint Patrick’s Day I’m going to post about one of the greenest plants in the landscape: moss. On both radio shows I get frequent calls...
An Election Year Garden Flowchart
I Love Gomphrena Pink Zazzle
Name: Gomphrena Pink Zazzle (aka: Gomphrena hybrid USPPAF) Type of Plant: This is an annual plant in colder climates that’s fairly new to the...
I Love Bidens ferulifolia Goldilocks Rocks
Name: Bidens ferulifolia Goldilocks Rocks Type of Plant: An annual in northern climates that does best in full sun. You’ll find this plant...
Hairy Balls and Pollinators…You Can Grow That!
Has anyone ever told you to "grow a pair?" Well...why stop at just two? When it comes to balls, you can grow several and they can be hairy! And at...
Like A New Box of Crayons
Every spring as I contemplate what will be planted in Annual Alley this season, it's like getting a new box of crayons. Which colors to use? Should...
In Praise of Seasonal Flowers
In Northern America we live in a time when we so often can ignore the seasons. The grocery stores sell strawberries, apples and asparagus twelve...
I Love Marble Queen Pothos
Name: In part of the world this plant is called Scindapsus aureus. In North America it’s either Epipremnum pinnatum or Epipremnum aureus. Most of...
The Tallest Poppy
I am a fan of John Sandford's novels, and am currently reading Rough Country (A Virgil Flowers Novel) . In this book Weather Davenport says, "Well,...
