Plant Profile: Knapweed (Centaurea macrocephala)
Karen Also known as hardheads, this vigorous perennial is native to the Caucasus and a member of the aster family, Asteraceae, that also includes daisy, yarrow, and lettuce. A relative of…
Birds in the Garden: Plants that Attract the Waxwing Family (Bombycillidae)
This small family consists of one genus that has two species found in North America, cedar waxwings, and Bohemian waxwings. The Bohemian waxwings nest in northern Canada and Alaska and…
Plant Profile: Cedar of Lebanon (Cedrus libani)
Cedar of Lebanon is an evergreen tree native to the eastern Mediterranean basin and a member of the Pine family, Pinaceae. It has a beautiful sculptural form with a thick…
Book Review: Design Ideas for Your Garden
The magnificent British gardens belonging to the National Trust are a treasure trove of great ideas to inspire any gardener. Jacq Barber’s book, Design Ideas for your Garden, presents a…
Spring Blooming Perennials for High Altitude Gardens
Plants that grow at high altitudes in the mountainous areas of the United States face challenges that plants at low elevations do not. One of the most significant is the…
Plant Profile: Indian Bean Tree (Catalpa bignonioides )
Also called cigar tree, this native of southeastern United States is a deciduous tree with a thick short trunk and pithy, brittle branches that are prone to wind damage. The…
Pink Variegated Plants for the Garden
Variegated plants are always desirable in the garden for the long term color they provide. They draw the eye and can be used to move the eye around the garden,…
Plant Profile: Cassiope ‘Edinburgh’
This dwarf alpine shrub is evergreen and native to North America. It has flexible branches that form an attractive clump covered with tiny dark green lance-shaped, overlapping leaves. The white…
Book Review: Design Your Garden
Designing a garden may be an overwhelming task and Diarmuid Garvin’s book,Design Your Garden, can be a great help. Whether you are starting from scratch or redoing an old garden…
Shakespeare’s Garden: Poison Hemlock
The poison hemlock, Conium maculatum, is an herbaceous biennial in the carrot family, Apiaceae that includes parsley and Queen Anne’s lace. It is not related to the evergreen, coniferous hemlock…