Native container gardens are much easier to put together than full sized gardens. If you are new to gardening or have limited space, natives in pots are a gateway to sustainable gardening on a larger scale. Placed alone or in groups, containers are versatile little packages that can be moved around at will and easy …
Invasive or Aggressive Plant?
Can a native plant also become invasive? I get asked this question a lot and it is more than a simple yes or no. The short answer is yes, when a native plant takes over your flowerbed and prevents or crowds out other flowers, both native and non-native, from growing. What is an invasive plant? …
New (To You!) Perennials to Try
Plant portraits of two under-used and under-appreciated perennials- Culver's Root and Bear's Breeches
Butterfly and Bee Magnet, Joe Pye Weed
If you want to grow the ultimate flower buffet for butterflies and bees, try Joe Pye Weed. When there isn't much else blooming, Joe Pye will surprise you with fuzzy pink umbels of flowers that flying insects clearly relish. I planted only one plant of the great late summer bloomer, Eupatorium dubium, 'Little Joe', which …
Taking Root: Delaware Botanic Garden’s Progress Report
Visiting the Delaware Botanic Garden in year two, one year later than my original visit, was an eye opener in the evolution of a major public garden. Even working as a landscape designer/installer, I was surprised at the great strides the difference of a year makes. For my first year post, go to DBG-From …
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Garden Design Magazine-A Good Read
Garden Design magazine known for its in-depth articles and awesome images has a clean and easy to read design, free of ads. Over the years, I have started and stopped my subscriptions to different gardening magazines, but I will never give up this one. I don't review many print publications, but I felt that …
Native vs Non-Native-Which is Better for Pollinators?
Native or non-native in the garden: Which is better? Simple- everyone knows the answer to that question...Natives of course! As gardeners, we have been bombarded with information about the value to wildlife of native plants and the more natives the better.
The Great Butterfly Bush Debate
Butterfly Bush, Buddleia davidii, has been getting a lot of bashing lately from garden writers, ecologists, and conservationists. Attacked from all sides by master gardeners and other garden professionals, I am sticking to my guns on the benefits and pleasures of planting it.