Plant Profile: Boston Ivy (Parthenocissus tricuspidata)
Karen When we moved from an old historic brick house in Annapolis to the brand new brick house in North Carolina we were not thrilled with the starkness of the look…
Plant Profile: Red maple ‘Schlesingeri’ (Acer rubrum ‘Schlesingeri’)
The red maple announces its presence in early spring with a huge haze of red, produced by a myriad of tiny red flowers borne on the tips of the twigs…
Plant Profile: Japanese Maple Osakazuki (Acer palmatum ‘Osakazuki’)
Japanese maples in general have much to offer the home garden including small size, interesting texture, and attractive color. The cultivar, ‘Osakazuki’, is noted for its fabulous autumn color and…
Plant Profile: Sweet Gum ‘Lane Roberts’ (Liquidambar styraciflua)
If you are lucky enough to have a sweet-gum tree in your vicinity you can recognize it by its round spiky burr like fruit that resembles an alien spaceship. You…
Plant Profile: Shagbark Hickory (Carya ovata)
Shagbark hickory, a native of Eastern United states, can fulfill many roles in a garden. It is a tall, upright shade tree with picturesque and open branching habit. It has…
Plant Profile: Burning Bush (Euonymus alatus)
The bright red color of these shrubs in the fall says it all! Nothing heralds fall more loudly and beautifully than these wonderful bushes that can be planted as a…
Plant Profile: Purple Muhly Grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris)
One of the most delightful plants native to North Carolina is purple muhly grass. Although it is hardy in zones 7-9 I had never seen it until I moved to…
Plant Profile: Monkshood (Aconitum carmichaelii ‘Arendsii’)
In late summer I look for tall plants with blue flowers borne in spikes and monkshood is one of the best. The deep violet blue color is striking and the…
Plant Profile: False Aster (Boltonia asteroids ‘Snowbank’)
Boltonia starts off in spring as a small, finely textured gray-green plant but grows slowly and steadily until late summer when it reaches its full height and girth and is…
Recipe: Eggplant Caviar
When you have lots of eggplant and want a new way to serve it try this eggplant caviar. It is easy to make and requires ingredients that you may have…