KarensGardenTips.com » Garden History

Gardens in Art: Parterres

Karen — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:00:53 +0000

Read 'Gardens in Art: Parterres' at http://www.KarensGardenTips.com.

If you have visited colonial gardens such as those in Williamsburg you may have noticed the low beds edged with boxwood often with a tree in the center. In the spring the bed is filled with flowering bulbs. These beds are parterres. The word is French and means [...]

Gardens in Art: Introduction

Karen — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 10:00:50 +0000

Read 'Gardens in Art: Introduction' at http://www.KarensGardenTips.com.

Read 'Gardens in Art: Introduction' at http://www.KarensGardenTips.com. Have you ever noticed that many paintings include gardens? The garden is usually the background for some person or activity that is featured in the foreground but sometimes the garden is the subject it self. The garden may be intended for private pleasure or grand festivities, be formal [...]

Facts about the “Partridge in a Pear Tree”

Karen — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 10:00:21 +0000

Read 'Facts about the “Partridge in a Pear Tree”' at http://www.KarensGardenTips.com.

The partridge in a pear tree is a familiar image at Christmas time especially during the twelves days afterward commemorated by the famous song. But have you ever thought about the partridge or the pear tree? What kind of partridge? What kind of pear [...]

History of Christmas Greens: Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora)

Karen — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 10:00:22 +0000

Read 'History of Christmas Greens: Southern Magnolia (Magnolia grandiflora)' at http://www.KarensGardenTips.com.

Few plants evoke images of the South like southern magnolia. The tall evergreen trees are native from coastal Virginia to Florida and west to Texas and Oklahoma and it is the state tree of Mississippi, the state flower of both Mississippi and Louisiana. The [...]

Winter Solstice for Gardeners

Karen — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 10:00:51 +0000

Read 'Winter Solstice for Gardeners' at http://www.KarensGardenTips.com.

The winter solstice isn’t just for gardeners, of course, but it does have special significance for their plants. The day of the winter solstice is the shortest day and longest night of the year so plants get a minimum of light. On the other hand, it is also [...]

History of Christmas Greens: White Pine (Pinus strobus)

Karen — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 10:00:32 +0000

Read 'History of Christmas Greens: White Pine (Pinus strobus)' at http://www.KarensGardenTips.com.

Decorating for the Christmas holidays inevitable leads to using white pine, valued for its long, flexible needles that stay on the branches for weeks after being cut. The bluish-green color with silvery highlights adds a frosty look making it an idea green for wreaths, [...]

History of Christmas Greens: Holly (Ilex spp.)

Karen — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 10:00:33 +0000

Read 'History of Christmas Greens: Holly (Ilex spp.)' at http://www.KarensGardenTips.com.

Christmas would not be the same without boughs of holly decorating the mantle, chandeliers and tables. Both English (Ilex aquifolium) and American Holly (I. opaca) are used, each with their special brand of appeal. The very shiny leaves and bright red berries of the English [...]

The Food of the First Thanksgiving

Karen — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 10:00:09 +0000

Read 'The Food of the First Thanksgiving' at http://www.KarensGardenTips.com.

What would Thanksgiving be without turkey and pumpkin pie? Most Americans will eat turkey at their annual feast and many will also enjoy pumpkin pie. In addition, most Thanksgiving dinners will have vegetables, bread, stuffing and cranberry relish. But did the pilgrims really have pumpkin pie [...]

History of Christmas Greens: Cedar

Karen — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 10:00:23 +0000

Read 'History of Christmas Greens: Cedar' at http://www.KarensGardenTips.com.

Of all the Christmas greens you can buy, Cedar can cause the most confusion. Several different greens are sold as cedar and none of them are true cedars. True cedars are in the genus Cedrus and none of them are native to North American. The Christmas greens [...]

What is an Heirloom Plant?

Karen — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 09:00:51 +0000

Read 'What is an Heirloom Plant?' at http://www.KarensGardenTips.com.

With the recent interest in heirloom plants many books, catalogs, and on line sources of plants are using the term so a clear definition of heirloom plant would be a very good thing. Unfortunately, different people mean different things when they use the term so an heirloom [...]