There is a reliable palette of native plants common in the trade today from Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida) to Serviceberry (Amelanchier sp) and Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) to Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis). But there are many … [Read more...]
River Birch Trees
The client has two 5-7 year old river birch trees. For last 2 years, the leaves have not developed to the normal size compared to previous years. Trees are in a sunny, well-drained area. The derecho took off all leaves few years … [Read more...]
Flowering Crabapples for the Garden
As the spring blooms of flowering cherries are fading, it reminds me of the many calls we get each year from folks who want to plant their own cherries. No one can argue with the beauty of cherries, but cherries are plagued with problems in … [Read more...]
How to Grow Virginia Bluebells
Native to North America, bluebells are charming woodland plants that thrive in partial to full shade. Also known as Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica), the plants can be found in prolific numbers in woodland areas, particularly in the eastern … [Read more...]
Managing the Tick Problem
Ticks have fast become the pest of greatest personal health concern to gardeners and outdoor people of all stripes. With good reason. They are everywhere, hard to detect and can carry debilitating, even deadly diseases. While there is no silver … [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...]