The ups and downs of the gardening world.
Known mostly to plant collectors and plant geeks, one of my top small trees is is Temple of Bloom Seven-Son Flower tree. Named for its cluster of seven flower buds, it was introduced to American gardeners in 1980 and has been referred as "hardy crape myrtle" or "summer lilac". A beautiful, easy to grow small …
Continue reading "Four Season Tree – Seven-Son Flower"
Do you love walking through a field of aromatic lavender? The scents of rosemary, lemon balm, and rose geranium? Also, to take in great vistas of rolling hills and fields of flowers? Then you need to schedule a visit to Star Bright Farms in White Hall, MD. Even though Lavender is not in season now, …
Continue reading "Herbal Destination – Star Bright Farm"
There is no better way to celebrate the fall season than decorating pumpkins! From mini chalk-painted pumpkins to gorgeous hand-painted marble creations, step up your style this year with these no-carve painted pumpkin ideas. These creative painted pumpkins think outside the box with modern metallics, fresh florals, and gold studs. Get inspired to take your …
Continue reading "Top 10 Decorated Pumpkins"
An under-used and under-appreciated perennial in the U.S, Tricyrtus or Toad Lily, is gaining in popularity. Uncommon beauty, late-season blooms and wonderful adaptability to shade, give the toad lilies a place in just about any garden. Called toad lilies because of the spotting like a toad, these beautiful flowers thrive in moist deep shade to …
Continue reading "Hairy Toad Lily – Gem of the Garden"
It is still warm during the day, but a little nippy at night, when I decided to visit Ladew Topiary Gardens in Monkton, MD, to see some colorful fall foliage and berries. But I was pleasantly surprised to see that flowers were still cranking out blooms and that caterpillars in the Butterfly House were still …
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Winter squash are filling up the farmers markets, roadside stands, and supermarkets, overflowing in a bounty of shapes, sizes and colors. How to choose the best ones? Winter squash are different from summer squash (like zucchini and yellow crookneck)—the skin is hard and inedible, while the inside is firm and flavorful. Leaving winter squash on …
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Floating above the border on long willowy stems, Japanese Anemones, Anemone hupehensis, are a stalwart herbaceous perennial that lasts for years. Many perennials are short-lived, lasting only for a few seasons, but I have had Anemones bloom for me in my garden for over 30 years. Reliable and deer resistant, they come in a variety …
Continue reading "Japanese Anemones – Fall Star of the Garden"
I declare this 2020, The Year of the Tomato! Forget COVID, frosts, and marauding ground hogs, I have harvested the most tomatoes that I can remember in my many years of gardening. Bad Start to a Tomato Year With an inauspicious start - an unusually late killing frost around Mother's day - I was left …
Continue reading "Year of the Tomato – Best Recipes To Use Your Tomato Bounty"
How would you like to have hand-selected healthy plants delivered personally to your front door in just a few days from ordering? And all the planning work done by pros for selecting the best seasonal plants to make your containers pop? I have the service for you! I tried BloomBox and loved the ease of …
Continue reading "BloomBox – All-New Way to Buy Plants"
It happens every Fall - honey extraction! After babying the bees, feeding, monitoring, re-queening, splitting, and just plain worrying about them, now is the moment of truth. How much honey did they deposit in the combs for me to rob from them? I won't leave you in suspense - I extracted 160-180 pounds from two …
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