Plant Profile: Eggplant ‘Gretel’ (Solanum melongena ‘Gretel’)
Karen I bought a 4 pack of ‘Gretel’ at the local farmer’s market and didn’t realize it until I was about to plant it. I had never had a yen to…
Plant Profile: Chinese Snowball Viburnum (Viburnum macrocephalum)
I grow one of these wonderful plants for the chartreuse flowers that are produced in early spring. There presence in a flower arrangement is awe-inspiring and I combine them with…
Seven Good Reasons to Grow Annuals
Annuals are those plants that complete their life cycle in one growing season. Most of the plants you see in little six packs are annuals: begonias, petunias, marigolds, red salvia,…
Plant Profile: Tomato ‘ Celebrity’ (Lycopersicon esculentum ‘Celebrity’)
A vegetable garden without tomatoes is unthinkable for me and I always include the cultivar ‘Celebrity’ because of its reliability. No matter what the weather conditions or soil conditions may…
How to Select a Site for a Vegetable Garden
There is nothing quite like the taste of vegetables fresh from the garden and having your own garden is not difficult. The first step is to select a suitable site.…
Plant Profile: Bridal Wreath (Spirea vanhouttei)
The graceful, sprays of small white flowers make this a favorite both in my garden and spring bouquets. Blooming with the flowering cherries and iris it gives old-fashioned charm to…
How to Grow Beets (Beta vulgaris)
Beets are a sweet vegetable so if you have a sweet tooth this might be your number one choice of a vegetable. It is so sweet that some varieties are…
Plant Profile: Bell Pepper ‘California Wonder’ (Capsicum annum)
Bell peppers are a staple in my garden and I have grown ‘California Wonder’ for over 40 years. It is an heirloom cultivar dating back to 1928 when it was…
Garden Journal, April, 2011
The month of April was gentle to the Piedmont of North Carolina where I live and brought ample rain and mild temperatures without the extremes that can characterize the month.…
William and Catherine’s Royal Wedding Flowers
Ahh…what a beautiful wedding! From the floral decorations of Westminster Abbey, to the bride’s maids’ flowers and the bridal bouquet, everything was elegant and classical. The very first glimpse of…