How to Buy Pumpkins for Halloween and Thanksgiving
Karen A visit to the local farmers’ market or local pumpkin patch in the fall reveals a big selection of pumpkins for sale. The selection is also varied so whether you…
Recipe: Carrot Salad
Interesting vegetable salads have always intrigued me and this carrot salad is one of my favorites. It is colorful, easy to make, delicious, uses ingredients you probably have on hand,…
Plant Profile: Sweet Gum ‘Lane Roberts’ (Liquidambar styraciflua)
If you are lucky enough to have a sweet-gum tree in your vicinity you can recognize it by its round spiky burr like fruit that resembles an alien spaceship. You…
How to Over-Winter Dahlias
If you love growing dahlias and live in zone 8 or colder you may want to consider saving them from year to year. The process is not difficult and by…
Plant Profile: Shagbark Hickory (Carya ovata)
Shagbark hickory, a native of Eastern United states, can fulfill many roles in a garden. It is a tall, upright shade tree with picturesque and open branching habit. It has…
How to Grow Reblooming Iris
When I bought 6 reblooming bearded irises for $19.99 from a mail-order promotional I never expected them to be a focal point in my fall garden. I planted them in…
Recipe: Crab-Squash Soup
Acorn squash might sound like an unlikely companion for crab but it makes a creamy, rich base for this very tasty soup. Of course, you can use butternut or other…
Plant Profile: Burning Bush (Euonymus alatus)
The bright red color of these shrubs in the fall says it all! Nothing heralds fall more loudly and beautifully than these wonderful bushes that can be planted as a…
How to Lift and Store Caladiums
Caladiums are beautiful plants for shady spots but are tropical and so must be lifted and stored if you want them to return for another season. They are hardy only…
Plant Profile: Purple Muhly Grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris)
One of the most delightful plants native to North Carolina is purple muhly grass. Although it is hardy in zones 7-9 I had never seen it until I moved to…