Plant Profile: Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum var. heptalobum)
Karen There are many beautiful Japanese maples and this is one of them. With its elegant form and superb autumn coloration it is a fine choice for a courtyard, cottage garden,…
Birds in the Garden: Plants that Attract the Kinglet Family (Regulidae)
This small family of birds consists of just one genus with six species, two of which are found in the United States: the ruby-crowned kinglet and the golden-crowned kinglet. Both…
Plant Profile: Rosa ‘Old Blush’
‘Old Blush’ is a memorable rose as it was the source of the gene for continuous bloom in modern roses. Grown in China for at least 1,000 years, it was…
Book Review: The Honey Makers
As all gardeners know, honeybees are important pollinators and must be encouraged in the garden especially when vegetables are being grown. The life of honeybees is fascinating and Gail Gibbon’s…
Plant Combination: Center-Strip Agave (Agave lophantha) ‘Splendida’ and Dichondra ‘Silver Falls’
Here is a unique combination that has a Southwest look but does well in the Southeast. These two plants love heat and sun, and laugh at drought. Together they produce…
Plant Profile: Snakebark Maple (Acer capillipes)
This small tree is native to Japan where it grows in the mountains along stream banks. The leaves unfurl red in the spring and change to mid green before changing…
Chitinase for the Garden
Have you heard of chitinase? It is a naturally occurring substance that has potential for preventing or reversing disease in plants. You may be using chitinase right now to fight…
Plant Profile: Ethiopian Acanthus (Acanthus sennii)
Endemic to the highlands of Ethiopia where it grows in dry forest margins, open hillsides, and along streams and river banks, this herbaceous perennial is rarely seen and is quite…
Book Review: Rain Gardens Sustainable Landscaping for a Beautiful Yard and a Healthy World
With increasing problems of water quality and risings water costs, rain gardens offer a solution to both problems while also providing a useful habitat for wild life of all kind.…
Plant Profile: Korean Fir (Abies koreana)
A cool weather evergreen tree, this native of South Korea is ideal for a small garden. It grows in temperate forests with high rain and snow fall and high humidity…