Perennially Yours Blog
Vernonia. Commonly called Ironweed, this genus includes about 1,000 species of perennials, shrubs and trees native to North America. The plant supposedly gets its common name from the fact that it has tough, erect stems and rusty looking seed clusters as flowers age. Most species can tolerate clay soil. In this feature I will zoom…
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I recently discovered Garden Design’s Garden Tours page. One glance and I became engrossed in fascinating tour suggestions, both for self-guided day trips (on the East and West Coast) plus overnight guided tours. The page also has fascinating articles on magnificent public gardens, accompanied by breathtaking photography. But be forewarned – you may lose track…
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I am excited about producing two inspirational gardening webinars this winter. Both webinars include pages of lecture notes as well as a CEU form for Master Gardeners and green industry professionals, AND can be viewed anytime, as many times as you wish after the live broadcast. Note: Due to scheduling conflicts, the majority of registrants…
Read MoreI had the pleasure of meeting Alaya Boisvert when I spoke in Vancouver, BC this past spring. What a brilliant, inspirational, and deep-thinking woman. Her father is the proprietor of Plantskydd Animal Repellants, a SUPERIOR product that I use in my gardens. Alaya and her former husband, Douglas, recently started an amazing website and blog titled Adventures in Co-Parenting. As…
Read MoreGarden space in front of Cole-Harrison Insurance Agency before (above) and after (below) memorial garden installed On Memorial Day weekend my twin sister and I installed a memorial garden (that I designed) in honor of her husband, Jeff. The garden was planted in front of Cole-Harrison Insurance Agency, located on the main street in Kennebunk.…
Read MoreOne of the easiest ways to add three seasons of color to a landscape is with foliage. Let’s face it, leaves require a lot less maintenance than most flowers. Yes, we need flowers for their beauty and as a food source for pollinators, but if we introduce more color from leaves (other than various shades/tints…
Read MoreFor fourteen consecutive years I have travelled to Gardener’s Supply Company in Burlington, VT to lecture to sold out audiences about the joy and rewards of high impact, low-maintenance flower gardening. For much longer, I have been a loyal customer, always eagerly expecting the next garden-tested, earth-friendly product. And now I am thrilled to have been…
Read MoreAstilbes are the drama queens of the shade garden. You cannot help but admire these ‘no-fuss’ divas for their beauty and grace. Flowers can be delicate and frothy or stiff and compact. Blooms range in color from red, burgundy, white, purple, rosy-purple, peach and various shades of pink. The handsome, fern-like foliage is a delightful…
Read MoreThe mosquitos are worse than ever this year. The minute I step out into my gardens, I am attacked by swarms. Usually I am not bothered by these blood-lusting creatures. Studies have shown that certain blood types are more pestered by mosquitos than others. Mosquitos are most attracted to Type O blood and least attracted…
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