Name: Tropaeolum majus – aka nasturtium Type of Plant: A warm weather annual that is the definition of cheerful. There are trailing varieties that...
A Most Charming (and Edible!) Annual
read more
Best Hardy Fall Mum…Dendranthema
Name: Dendranthema – aka Chrysanthemum or even perennial daisy mums. Whatever you call them, they are bone-hardy, dependable plants. Varieties...
Great Garden Bloggers
Need reading material for a rainy or winter day? Want large amounts of inspiration and plant information? Have I got a blog for you...well, several...
I Love Variegated Spreading Salmon Sunpatiens
Name: Variegated Spreading Salmon Sunpatiens Type of Plant: This variety of Sunpatiens forms a nice rounded plant that grows about 18” high and 20”...
A Bold Burst of Color In The Fall
Imagine: “My perennial garden looks bare and empty by September,” he said. “It doesn’t have to be that way,” she said. “Don’t talk to me about...
A Tree That Flowers in Fall
Name: Franklinia alatamaha – aka the Franklin tree Type of Plant: Small tree or multi-stemmed large shrub that’s hardy in zone 5 – 8. This plant...
A Small Vine For The Edible Landscape
Name: Basella rubra aka Malabar spinach Type of Plant: A tropical vine that can grow to about 6 feet tall in one growing season. Although this is...
Hydrangea paniculata ‘Grandiflora’ – a classic large shrub
Name: Hydrangea paniculata ‘Grandiflora’ aka peegee hydrangea, or panicle hydrangea. Type of Plant: A large growing shrub – one of the first...
Oh Happy Day…the Tomato, Not The Song
Name: Oh Happy Day Hybrid Tomato from Burpee Type of Plant: A “junior beefstake” type tomato. Indeterminate, 4-5 oz fruit (in other words, medium...
A Plant That Plays Well With Others
Name: Rudbeckia subtomentosa ‘Henry Eilers’ aka quilled petal black-eyed Susan Type of Plant: This is a perennial that’s native to the USA. This...
A Perennial for Pollinators, Butterflies and Bouquets
Imagine: Emma gazed out over the field in front of their new house. "Honey, wouldn't it be great to plant a butterfly meadow out there?" she asked....
Not A Plant For Control Freaks…
Imagine: Fran loved her purple angelica. When it came into flower in mid summer and the bees crowded into the blooms, she smiled. But her husband,...
Growing Super Food in the Garden
Imagine: Paul harvested his garlic and raked the area where it grew. It was mid-summer and he suddenly had a large, empth area in his vegetable...
A Smaller Vine That Blooms All Summer
Imagine: They wandered through the perennial vines at the garden center, looking at climbing hydrangeas, honeysuckle and wisteria. “These are grow...
Allium schubertii – Here Comes The Fun
Imagine: As they sat around the firepit at their friends’ new house, the conversation turned to the landscaping. “I want to have plants back here...
“Mom! We Have To Save The Monarchs!”
Imagine: Her kids came home from school all excited about a science program that had been presented in the auditorium. “Mom! We have to help save...
Eryngium ‘Big Blue’ – not boring, not pink
Imagine: Garden Designer’s Diary, June 23 The client said she wanted unusual plants in her garden. “I’d like pods, and grasses and quirky things I...
The Glorious Kousa Dogwood
Name: Cornus kousa aka the kousa dogwood Type of Plant: A small tree that’s native to Asia but grows so well in Zones 5 to 8. There are a few...