Name: Hydrangea paniculata –panicle hydrangeas! Type of Plant: These are the white to pink flowering hydrangeas that are in or approaching full...
The Summer Weeds are Back!
At the end of June, gardeners might assume that once the vegetables and annuals are planted, they can sit back and relax. After all, you pulled...
Why Doesn’t My Blue Hydrangea Bloom ~ A GardenLady Graphic
I've written many a blog and social media post about why blue hydrangeas don't flower. You can read one of them here. But I've always had it in mind...
Containers: Transitioning From Spring To Summer
On March 26th I planted two urns with spring flowers and perennials. I used pansies, dianthus, English daisies and a Heuchera in each urn. It was an...
I Love Allium Schoenoprasum aka Garden Chives
Name: Allium schoenoprasum aka garden chives Type of Plant: A perennial herb that grows from small bulbs, hardy in Zones 4-8. Why I Love/Hate this...
Timetable for Starting Seeds on the Cape and Islands
Indoors under lights or in a very sunny window: February-March: Peppers. March-April: Tomatoes, eggplant, kale, broccoli, cannabis. (The earlier you...
My Personal Sign That It’s Spring
Recently, on a local gardening group Facebook page, I posted a photo of a skunk cabbage flower poking up out of the soil. I said that this was how I...
How To Grow Blue Hydrangeas
I was doing a Zoom presentation for a group last week, and one of the questions from an attendee was about his blue hydrangea. "It never flowers,"...
How To Grow Vegetables In Containers
If you don't have space or adequate sunlight to grow your vegetables in the ground, containers are the next best option. You can grow edibles in...
Fagus sylvatica ‘Riversii’ aka purple leaf beech, River’s purple European Beech, copper beech
Name: Fagus sylvatica 'Riversii' aka purple leaf beech, River's purple European beech, or copper beech Type of Plant: A very large, deciduous tree...
I Love Baccharis halimifolia, aka groundsel or eastern baccharis
Sometimes it's great to appreciate a plant that doesn't live everywhere, doesn't flower all summer, and can't be kept "under control." Name:...
I Love Pennisetum purpureum ‘Tift 8’ aka Vertigo Fountain Grass
Name: Pennisetum purpureum ‘Tift 8’ aka Vertigo fountain grass Type of Plant: An annual grass in colder climates (hardy in Zone 8-11) that’s tall...
I Love Myrica pensylvanica aka bayberry
Name: Myrica pensylvanica aka bayberry Type of Plant: Native shrub or small tree for full sun and sandy soils Why I Love/Hate this plant: In dry...
Love Silver Moon Hyacinth Vine
Name: Dolichos lablab ‘Silver Moon’ aka Lablab purpureus ‘Silver Moon’ Type of Plant: A fast growing annual vine that you can grow from seed. Why I...
What’s In Bloom, August 22, Sandwich, MA
Yesterday I spent about an hour touring our property and taking a photo of every plant that was in bloom. Okay, not every plant, and not every...
I Love Mecardonia GoldDust
Name: Mecardonia GoldDust Type of Plant: An annual from Proven Winners that is heat tolerant, long-flowering, and totally low-maintenance. This...
What’s Making Me Happy in Mid-August
This morning I was on Mindy Todd's program on WCAI/NAN, and mentioned a few things that were making me happy. Here are some of those plants and more...
Love Plants and Gardens? Want to Write, Speak, or Podcast About It?
Sometime ago I put up the graphic posted below, about how I came to be a garden communicator. Although I've always loved plants and gardens, it...

















