Plant Profile: Winter Aconite (Eranthis hyemalis)
Karen The bright yellow flowers of Winter Aconite stand out against the bare soil or the winter snow in late winter to early spring, a great reminder that spring really is…
Japanese Rice Art
Here’s a unique garden idea from Japan; growing different colored plants to create a picture. The Japanese do it with rice and the pictures they create are huge, covering a…
Plant Profile: Bodnant Viburnum (Viburnum x bodnantense ‘Dawn’)
The pink to white flowers of Bodnant viburnum in winter is a very welcome sight especially after a series of gray cold days. In mild climates the flowers may begin…
Ten Tips for Growing Broccoli
The cool weather of spring and fall invites the planting of broccoli, a vegetable that is tasty, versatile, and good for you. A ½ cup of cooked fresh broccoli contains…
Plant Profile: Pussy Willow (Salix discolor)
Pussy willow is a deciduous shrub or small tree native to moist and wet soils of northern regions of North America including parts of the US. It is a member…
A Visit to Ham House, Richmond, Surrey, England
The stately Stuart period Ham house and garden sit on the backs of The River Thames in the outskirts of London offering a glimpse of 17th century life. The mansion,…
Plant Profile: Trout Lily (Erythronium americanum)
One of the most endearing wild flowers is the dogtooth violet also called trout lily. The yellow nodding flower with its recurved petals and long brown stamens is borne singly…
Plant Profile: Winter Jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum)
When the weather is cold and bleak the attractive arching green stems of winter jasmine promise one of the first harbingers of spring; bright yellow flowers borne about a month…
A Visit to Glamis Castle, Glamis, Angus, Scotland
Glamis Castle, known for being the childhood home of the mother of Queen Elizabeth II and the birthplace of her sister, Princess Margaret, has been in the Strathmore family for…
Plant Profile: Wintersweet (Chimonanthus praecox)
Native to China, this deciduous shrub is a member of the spicebush family, Calycanthaceae. The plant grows up to 15′ tall and has dark green, almond shaped leaves that are…