Featured Plant
Ornamental Grasses That Glow
Like many gardeners, I am attracted to ornamental grasses and sedges for their graceful stature and movement in the garden, ease of care, and distaste to munching critters. I am particularly enamored with those with shimmering yellow or golden blades. They light up the garden! Below are a few of my favorites that have aced…
Read MoreFeatured Plants Perennial Sunflower and Hydrangea
Heliopsis helianthoides var. scabra ‘Burning Hearts’ My heart went THUMP! THUMP! THUMP! when I saw this beauty for sale in 2019 at the garden center where I work. I quickly purchased one for my little condo garden. It was stunning the first year but before raving about it, I wanted to see how it would…
Read MoreAward-Winning Perennials, Annuals and Edibles
I am always on the prowl for exceptional perennials. All-America Selections are remarkable plants (perennials, vegetables, annuals) that have been rigorously trialed and received glowing reports from expert judges. All-America Selections, founded in 1932, is the oldest, independent testing organization of flowers and edibles in North America. There are two award categories: national and regional.…
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Rather than consider fall a farewell to another growing season, we should celebrate its unparalleled brilliance from foliage, berries, bark and stems. Certain native flowering shrubs not only offer a pollinator friendly flowers, they can also provide dazzling leaves for an outstanding last hurrah. Below are a few nice choices hardy in Zones 5 or…
Read MoreAmazing Garden Plants Brunnera, Heptacodium and Helianthus
Brunnera ‘Queen of Hearts’ and ‘Jack of Diamonds’ Brunnera, commonly called Siberian Bugloss, is a spectacular perennial for shade gardens. ‘Jack Frost’ is probably the best known, thanks to its being awarded the 2012 Perennial of the Year. I have trialed many cultivars over the years but the most recent ‘trialees’ left me gasping! ‘Queen…
Read MoreCONFOUNDING CLEMATIS
Clematis, sometimes referred to as the Queen of Vines, offer astonishing color in the landscape. There are over 300 remarkable species. Flowers can be single, multi-petal or bell-shaped. And range in color from red, pink, purple, lavender, blue, white, yellow and multi-color. Most gardeners are familiar with Clematis grown as vines but there are also…
Read MoreBLUE-TIFUL FLOWERS
Blue is a very calming and serene color. It is also considered a healing color that helps lower blood pressure and can reduce rapid heart rate. It is not surprising that shades of blue and blue-green are frequently used in healthcare settings. (Photo Pulmonaria ‘Blue Ensign’, courtesy of The Intercontinental Gardener) Many gardeners, including me,…
Read MoreASTILBES FOR SUN AND SHADE
Astilbes are rockstars that should be invited to perform in your garden! How can you not love their lush flower plumes that range in color from white, cream, pink, red, purple, peach, and lilac? Flower heights vary greatly, from 6” to 4’. Astilbes are deer resistant, flower in sun or shade, and are ignored by…
Read MoreAnnuals that shine in shady spots
Finding striking, no-fuss annuals for shady gardens and containers can be challenging, especially if you are seeking something other than common impatiens (Impatiens walleriana). Since most of my gardens are in part shade or shade, I’m always on the lookout for striking annuals to extend the floral display through fall. A few of my favorite…
Read MoreSASSY SPRING BLOOMING PHLOX
After a long cold winter, gardeners are starved for color in the garden. Spring blooming Phlox is one of the first perennials to greet us with colorful flowers. When I mention spring blooming Phlox, most people think of Phlox subulata, commonly called Creeping Phlox. But there are other fantastic Phlox that are just as effective…
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