Outstanding Miniature Roses for Standards
Karen Rose standards can add color, verticality and structure to a any garden. Many different kinds of roses can used for making standards and miniature roses are especially desirable because they…
Plant Profile: Yellow Wax Bells (Kireneshoma palmata)
Yellow wax bells is a clump forming herbaceous perennial belonging to the hydrangea family (Hydrangeaceae) and native to mountainous woodlands of Japan and Korea. Strong maroon stems carry dark green,…
Book Review: Gardening with Less Water
A lack of water is becoming more and more of a problem throughout the world driving up the cost of water and food. David A. Bainbridge’s book, Gardening with Less…
Edible Flowers: Chinese Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa sinensis)
Chinese hibiscus is a tropical evergreen shrub or small tree belonging to the mallow family (Malvaeceae) along with hollyhock, cotton, okra, and cacao. It is a popular landscape plant in…
Plant Profile: Sea Kale (Crambe maritima)
Sea kale is herbaceous perennial and a member of the mustard/cabbage family ( Brassicaceae) that also includes wallflowers, stock and horseradish. It is native to Europe and since the 18th…
Narcissus for Shady Sites
Daffodils do not like shade. They may bloom well the first year but if they do not have sufficient sun they can not store enough energy to keep on producing…
Plant Profile: Bonnet Bellflower (Codonopsis clematidea)
Bonnet bellflower is a herbaceous perennial climber in the bellflower family (Campanulaceae) and native to eastern and central Asia. It has brittle slender stems and pale gray-green leaves that are…
Book Review: The Joy of Pickling
If you have a vegetable garden you are bound to have more produce than you can eat at times so pickling it might be of interest. Linda Ziedrich’s book, The…
Plant Combination: Canna ‘Australia’ and Coleus (Solenostemon scutellariodes) ‘Rustic Orange’
You don’t have to wait until fall to wallow in the luscious black and copper colored combination. The tall canna ‘Australia’ provides deep burgundy black leaves that contrast with its…
Plant Profile: New Zealand Laurel (Corynocarpus laevigatus)
Also known as karaka, this narrow upright evergreen tree grows in coastal and lowland forests of New Zealand. It a shrubby habit with erect or spreading branches. The large leathery…