Plant Profile: Bottle Gentian (Gentiana andrewsii)
Karen For a flower with an unusual shape, try bottle gentian. The common name gives you an idea of what to expect. Yes, the flowers look like little bottles or large…
Book Review: The Truth about Organic Gardening: Benefits, Drawbacks, and the Bottom Line
Have you ever noticed that if a product is marked “organic” the price is higher than similar ones? Apparently a lot of people are very attracted to products, especially food,…
Plant Profile: Meadow Anemone (Anemone canadensis aka A. pennsylvanica)
A North American native of moist meadows, streams banks, and open woods, this herbaceous perennial is a member of the buttercup family, Ranunculaceae, that also includes delphinium, clematis, and hellebore.…
Plant Profile: ‘Toffee Chip’ Bugleweed (Ajuga reptans)
The variegated foliage of Ajuga reptans seems to show endless variations and ‘Toffee Chip’ is another excellent one. The leaves have gold to cream margins and centers of brown and…
How To Plant a Tree or Shrub
Chuck One of the most frequently asked gardening questions is “What is the best way to prepare for and then plant a tree or shrub”? Unfortunately planting a tree or shrub…
Pussy Willows at Easter
Easter traditions commonly include eggs, rabbits, Easter lilies, palms, jelly beans and other candy. For some people, however, pussy willows can be added to the list. Pussy willows are one…
Book Review: American Horticultural Society Pruning and Training
This large handsome book is the ultimate guide to pruning and training for experienced and novice gardeners alike. Step by step instructions are given for every pruning situation with detailed…
Characteristics of Old Garden Roses: Damask Rose
The Damask roses have a certain mystic. Is it the name that suggests an exotic origin? or the recollection of a heavy fragrance? Both are true of the Damask rose.…
Plant Profile: Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacornus)
Also called water flag, this herbaceous perennial is a beardless rhizomatous iris native to the wetlands of Europe, western Asia and northwest Africa. It is a member of the iris…
How to Grow the Best Vegetable Garden Ever
There is nothing more rewarding to a gardener than to have a beautiful vegetable garden bearing an abundance of delicious fresh produce all summer long. Most of us know that…