If you are a pond owner, early spring is a good time to take a walk around your pond and check to see if any maintenance is needed. More... … [Read more...]
a plant i’d order: hakonechloa ‘all gold’
IT GROWS IN SHADE, READS AS SOLID GOLD, and looks good from early May to sometime in winter, I think, faded to wheat-color and partly hidden in snow. Even my beloved former cat agreed on this one: Hakonechloa macra ‘All Gold’ was Jack’s favorite … [Read more...]
Pruning Your Butterfly Bushes
The client called in with concerns about a butterfly bush that was not pruned back over winter. There is no sign of green/growth yet coming from base / roots or on any over-wintered branches. Can it be pruned now? Will there be blooms … [Read more...]
Why Would You Want to Cut a Plant Almost to the Ground?
I can think of a few good reasons for what horticulture calls “coppicing.” The main reason is to rejuvenate a big, old bush. Getting rid of all of the old wood clears space and coerces a plant to get busy growing fresh shoots – or else. … [Read more...]
Fennel
Description There are two types of fennel. One is treated as an herb (herb fennel – Foeniculum vulgare) and one that is treated like a bulb type vegetable (Florence fennel or Finocchio – Foeniculum vulgare var. dulce). ... ...Read More … [Read more...]
Growing Daffodils
Daffodils are among the easiest plants to grow, and the rewards far outweigh the work. Of the major groups of bulbs, daffodils are the only truly reliable perennials, and the blooming season can be as long as two months if the right varieties are … [Read more...]
10 Garden Ideas to Steal from Superstar Dutch Designer Piet Oudolf
If the world of gardening has rock stars, Piet Oudolf qualifies as Mick Jagger, David Bowie, and Prince rolled into one. The Dutch landscape designer—whose work is instantly recognizable for its dreamy romanticism and oft-copied for its emphasis on … [Read more...]
So, I’m Not Alone, Eh?
Apparently, deer-eaten plants is an even worse issue than I thought… and it’s one that seems to bring out a lot of passion, compassion, and empathy. Lots of fellow gardeners wrote not only to offer tips and experience-driven advice, but to say how … [Read more...]
2019 Herb of the Year: Anise Hyssop
Although we are enjoying Hops, which is (was) Herb of the Year 2018, we are gearing up for Agastache, Herb of the Year for 2019. Agastache includes other herbs besides anise hyssop (some even mint scented), however I am concentrating on the … [Read more...]
Meet the 2019 Annual of the Year
Meet one of the most touchable, versatile and easy plants you'll ever grow - Lemon Coral® Sedum. Whether you're planning your container recipes or redoing a garden bed, you'll find a use for this fabulous succulent. Let's take a closer look. More... … [Read more...]