C. L. Fornari's Blog
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,...
What If This Plant Dies?
Plants Dying? It’s Part of The Adventure
If everything you did was a sure thing, how satisfying would that be? Isn't part of the fun in trying new pursuits and activities not knowing how...
Roasted Roots
I love roasted veggies, and this particular combination is easy, versatile and satisfying. Serve this plain as a side dish, or toss with tofu or...
Oatmeal Walnut Blueberry Bars
When Awesome Bars stopped making their apricot walnut bar I was heartbroken. So I decided to do an oatmeal/walnut bar of my own. I used blueberries...
Hearts-a-Bustin’
There's a plant for every holiday, and for Valentine's Day I'm especially fond of Euonymus americanus. With a common name like hearts-a-bustin',...
I Love Hydrangea Pinky Winky
Name: Hydrangea paniculata ‘Dvppinky’ aka Pinky Winky Hydrangea Type of Plant: This is a very hardy shrub that flowers in mid-to-late summer and...
I Love Verbascum Chaixii
Name: Verbascum chaixii aka nettle-leaved mullein Type of Plant: A biennial that sometimes only lasts a year and other times might live three...