Plant Profile: Trout Lily (Erythronium americanum)
Karen One of the most endearing wild flowers is the dogtooth violet also called trout lily. The yellow nodding flower with its recurved petals and long brown stamens is borne singly…
Plant Profile: Winter Jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum)
When the weather is cold and bleak the attractive arching green stems of winter jasmine promise one of the first harbingers of spring; bright yellow flowers borne about a month…
A Visit to Glamis Castle, Glamis, Angus, Scotland
Glamis Castle, known for being the childhood home of the mother of Queen Elizabeth II and the birthplace of her sister, Princess Margaret, has been in the Strathmore family for…
Plant Profile: Wintersweet (Chimonanthus praecox)
Native to China, this deciduous shrub is a member of the spicebush family, Calycanthaceae. The plant grows up to 15′ tall and has dark green, almond shaped leaves that are…
The Story of the Olympic Bouquet, Vancouver, 2010
When the winners are given their medals at the Olympic Games, do you look at the bouquets? I do. Every medallist gets one and this year at the winter games…
Plant Profile: Japanese Andromeda (Pieris japonica)
Early blooming evergreen shrubs are very special for year round interest in the garden and Pieris japonica is one of the best. Its large drooping clusters of small, waxy lily-of-the-valley-like…
A Visit to Scotney Castle and Gardens, Lamberhurst, Kent, England
Perched high on a hill Scotney New Castle overlooks a beautiful view of the ruins of Scotney Old Castle in the valley below. The Old Castle was built c.1378-80 and…
Name This Plant Game: Early Blooming Plants 1
This simple game tests your gardening knowledge by identifying five plants shown in photos from a list of possible names. Two photos of each plant are accompaned by a clue…
Plant Profile: Snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis)
Native to the woodlands of much of Europe, other than Great Britain and northern Europe, this early blooming bulb is a member of the amaryllis family, Amaryllidaceae, that also includes…
How to Care for a Bouquet of Flowers
A beautiful bouquet of flowers can brighten even the grayest days. Whether you buy a bouquet for yourself or receive one in celebration of Valentines Day, your birthday, anniversary, or…