Plant Profile: Bell Pepper ‘California Wonder’ (Capsicum annum)
Karen 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…
How to Select a Site for Growing Strawberries
Strawberries are easy to grow in the home garden with good yields if planted in the right place. For strawberries, “the right place” includes several criteria so pick the site…
Decorations at Westminster Abbey for the Royal Wedding
Three days before the royal wedding trucks pulled up to Westminster Abbey and men began unloading living trees to decorate the abbey. Wow! What does it mean? The florist directing…
Plant Profile: Siberian Squill (Scilla sibirica)
Whether growing along the edge of a deciduous woodland or under shrubs with daffodils, Siberian squill is a welcome sight in spring. The bright blue color brightens up any landscape…
Five Spring Blooming Bulbs for the Rock Garden
Every rock garden needs flowers that bloom in the spring and what could be more appropriate than bulbs? Tuck a handful here and there among the rocks and let their…
Plant Profile: Radish (Raphanus sativus) ‘Cherry Belle’
There is nothing as rewarding in the spring as harvesting the crop of vegetables and radishes are usually my first crop. The heirloom cultivar, ‘Cherry Belle’ is still my favorite…
Perennial of the Year (2012): Brunnera macrophylla ‘Jack Frost’
Brunnera macrophylla ‘Jack Frost’ has been named the Perennial Plant of the Year by the Perennial Plant Association, a trade organization established to promote the use and sale of herbaceous…
Plant Profile: Summer Snowflake (Leucojum aestivum)
In spite of its name, summer snowflake appears in early spring with the daffodils. They do well under deciduous trees where they can get sun in late winter and spring…