Plant Profile: Fire Flame Tulip (Tulipa acuminata)
Karen This tulip is so strange that I am tempted to call it bizarre. The bright orange color streaked with yellow is only part of its appeal; the petals are long,…
Five Roses for the Cottage Garden
No cottage garden would be complete without roses; not the high maintenance, leggy, hybrid teas that most people visualize as the typical rose but the more easy going kind that…
Plant Profile: Granny’s Bonnet/ Garden Columbine (Aquilegia vulgaris)
With a name like “granny’s bonnet” this plant is bound to raise the curiosity of any gardener. As one of 65 species of columbine, this is not the best known,…
Five Favorite Heirloom Species Tulips
Growing species tulips is a rewarding experience especially considering that they are more likely to come back in future years than other kinds of tulips. Species tulips have a simple,…
Plant Profile: Japanese Pearly Everlasting (Anaphalis cinnamomea aka A. yedoensis))
Native to India, this herbaceous perennial is a member of the aster family, Asteraceae, that also includes daisy, yarrow, and lettuce. It grows 2-3″ tall from a rhizomateous rootstock and…
How to Force Tulips
A pot of blooming tulips in January is always a pleasant sight and is sure to lift spirits even on a cold, dismal day. With a little planning and effort…
Plant Profile: Cinderella Pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima)
Whether you want to make pie or a flower arrangement, the Cinderella pumpkin is a good choice. It gets its name from its resemblance to the carriage that Cinderella’s fairy…
How to Make a Fall Pumpkin Arrangement
When the pumpkins start showing up in the farmers’ market and stores, the garden is putting on its fall display and it is hard to resist making an arrangement with…
Plant Profile: Creeping Jenny (Lysamachia nummularia ‘Aurea’)
This fast growing groundcover can quickly spread all over the garden and even into the lawn. It is not to everyone’s liking but I find it very attractive and useful…
Five Bulbs for Damp Soil
Most bulbs like well-drained soil and will rot if they don’t get it. But there are some bulbs that actually like or at least tolerate damp soil. Grow them with…