Plant Profile: Bluebeard (Caryopteris x clandonensis)
Karen Bluebeard seems to be the most frequently used common name but two others are blue spirea or blue mist, both of which seem more descriptive. Whatever you call it, this…
Garden Journal: August 22, 2010
As we pass through the last weeks of August it appears that the heat and humidity will lift but in the meantime we still have more rain than the plants…
Plant Profile: Star flower (Pentas lanceolata)
I had never heard of pentas until I came to North Carolina a few years ago and now I hear about them, read about them and see them everywhere. They…
Five Favorite Mocha Colored Perennials
Have you ever thought of growing mocha colored plants? Yes, they are brown. Yes, they will look like dead plants to some people but they are very unique and when…
Garden Journal: August 15, 2010
Heat humidity and showers are still our constant companions. Sometimes we even have a deluge aggravating the root rot and blackspot problems that have plagued us for several weeks. He…
Plant Profile: Bush Violet (Browallia speciosa)
Bush violet is an old fashioned plant that looks just right in my secret garden with other old fashioned plants that are right at home in a cottage garden. It…
Five Bold Perennials for Specimen Planting
Sometimes you want a spectacular plant to make a statement, serve as a focal point, or add uniqueness to the border. The plant must be outstanding in some way; the…
Plant Profile: Globe Amaranth (Gomphrena globosa) ‘Strawberry Fields’
Globe amaranth is an annual in the amaranth family, Amaranthaceae, that also includes Russian thistle, beet, and spinach. Native to Texas and Mexico, it grows 1-3′ tall, depending on the…
Garden Journal: August 8, 2010
Two days of normal temperatures and lower humidity and some heavy rain have brought a relief to the super high temperatures of the past weeks but more hot weather lies…
Plant Profile: Mock Orange Miniature Snowflake (Philadelphus x virginalis ‘Miniature Snowflake’)
The clear white flowers of mock orange ‘Miniature Snowflake’ standout against the crisp dark green foliage and the citrus fragrance perfumes the air all around it as spring turns into…