Characteristics of Old Garden Roses: Alba Rose
Karen The name “Alba’ would lead you to believe that these roses are white. In fact, they are also various shades of light pink. They are the result of a cross…
Characteristics of Old Garden Roses: Damask Rose
The Damask roses have a certain mystic. Is it the name that suggests an exotic origin? or the recollection of a heavy fragrance? Both are true of the Damask rose.…
How to Grow the Best Vegetable Garden Ever
There is nothing more rewarding to a gardener than to have a beautiful vegetable garden bearing an abundance of delicious fresh produce all summer long. Most of us know that…
Characteristics of Grandiflora Roses
Funny thing about grandiflora roses, the name suggests large flowers but the flowers aren’t as large as those of hybrid teas. Maybe the English rose growers know something we don’t…
Five Sweet Smelling Herbs for the Cottage Garden
The traditional cottage garden of the past was a practical garden that included vegetables and herbs. The herbs were important to the cottage gardener for their usefulness especially in regard…
Characteristics of Floribunda Roses
The name “floribunda” says it all; flora means “flower”, and abundo means “having in large supply” so the name “floribunda” aptly describes a rose having an abundance of flowers. Floribundas…
Spring Blooming Plants for A Cottage Garden Wall
The traditional cottage garden was enclosed, sometimes by a hedge, but often by a wall. As the wall aged it crumbled and left little niches where plants could get a…
Late Spring to Early summer Perennials for the Cottage Garden
As spring moves into summer more and more perennials begin to bloom and can take over the job of providing color in the garden. As the bulbs begin to fade…
Medicinal Herbs for the Cottage Garden
When the colonists came to America they brought various herbs with them. Many were medicinal and very important to their health, or at least they thought so. Some of the…
Six Native Woody Vines For an American Cottage Garden
Scrambling over a wall or up a pergola, attracting birds, or adding color and fragrance vines can be an important part of an American cottage garden. Vines not only add…