Plant Profile: American Bittersweet (Celastrus scandens)
Karen A fall visit to our nursery in New Jersey is always a treat, offering an opportunity to collect an abundance of greens, cones, twigs, and other items for the holidays.…
A Fall Visit to Biltmore Estate, Asheville, North Carolina
In North Carolina, fall is a great time to go to the mountains for either lunch or an overnight getaway. The temperatures are ideal for outdoor activities and the trees…
Plant Profile: Parsley (Petroselinum crispum [curly]; Petroselinum neapolitanum [Italian parsley])
I am especially fond of parsley for both its flavor and its use in my flower garden. I am the type of (rude?) person that always eats the parsley garnish…
Botany for Gardeners: The Leaf – Autumn Coloration
All along the east coast of the U.S. October is the month when people gear up for a beautiful display of autumn leaf color. New England, especially Maine, is the…
Plant Profile: Sweet Basil (Ocimum basilicum)
Sweet basil is an annual culinary herb and a member of the mint family, Lamiaceae, that also includes rosemary, deadnettle, and ajuga. It is native to India, Africa and Asia…
A Visit to Hong Kong Park, Hong Kong, China
I love the hustle and bustle, the urban skyline, and the vast array of goods for sale when in Hong Kong but the time comes when rubbing shoulders with another…
Plant Profile: ‘Snow N Summer’ Asiatic Jasmine (Trachelospermum asiaticum ‘Snow N Summer’)
This was one of the plants that I saw in a nursery and could not resist. It called out to me and I knew immediately that I had to have…
Botany for Gardeners: The Leaf – Modifications
Leaves are usually green but can be yellow, red, purple or a combination of these. Leaves can be so large that they can hide a large cat or so small…
Plant Profile: Stock (Matthiola incana)
Common stock is a cool weather tender perennial native to coastal areas of southern Europe and a member of the cabbage family, Cruciferae, that also includes turnip, alyssum, and wall-flower.…
A Visit to Nan Lian Garden, Hong Kong, China
One of the outstanding sites in Hong Kong is Nan Lian Garden. It offers visitors an opportunity to leave the city behind and experience a classical Tang-style garden with rocks,…