Plant Profile: Cucumber Magnolia (Magnolia acuminata)
Karen Although its flowers are not large and showy like other magnolias, this tall deciduous tree makes a fine shade tree for large spaces. A native of eastern United States from…
Shakespeare’s Garden: Columbine
Columbine belongs to the genus Aquilegia that has over 65 species, many of which are good garden plants. The columbine of Shakespeare was probably Aquilegia vulgaris, an excellent garden plant…
Plant Profile: Chinese Elm ( Ulmus parvifolia)
If you have a yen for a tall stately elm but fear Dutch elm disease you might be tempted by ‘Emer 11” Chinese elm which is resistant to the disease.…
Book Review: What to Drink with What you Eat
Whether you want of find the best wine for enjoying a Big Mac or snails, ice-cream or crème brulee, you will find the answer in this amazing book. Drawing from…
Native Plants for Full Shade: Herbaceous Perennials
Chuck An area in full shade can be a problem because it gets little direct sunlight if any and most plants need light to survive. Some plants, however, need less light…
Plant Profile: American Hop-Hornbeam (Ostrya virginiana aka Carpinus virginiana)
This deciduous understory tree is native to eastern United States where it can be found on dry slopes and woodlands. It is small to medium in size with upright spreading…
Hops and a Visit to a Microbrewery
I was looking through a catalog the other day to find a vine suitable for the obelisk in the formal garden and came upon hops. Two kinds were listed, one…
Plant Profile: Common Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)
This medium to large deciduous tree is native to central and southeastern United States where it can be found along stream banks, on flood plains, and on the rocky hillsides…
Book Review: Leaf Man
If you want a book that will stimulate imagination and creativity, Lois Ehlert’s book, Leaf Man, is a great choice. This is the kind of book that encourages the reader…
Weeds and Their Control: Virginia Buttonweed (Diodia virginiana)
Virginia buttonwood is a perennial native to the United States. It is found in from Connecticut westward to central Kansas, and southward to the Gulf of Mexico and can be…