Plant Profile: Sweet Gum ‘Lane Roberts’ (Liquidambar styraciflua)
Karen 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…
Plant Profile: Zebra Grass (Miscanthus sinensis ‘Zebrinus’)
For long season interest consider the warm weather Zebra grass, a native of Japan, Korea and China. It is a member of the grass family, Poaceae, that also includes corn,…
Plant Profile: Hardy Ageratum (Eupatorium coelestinum)
This is a love hate sort of plant. It provides wonderful blue color in the fall and looks so good at that time I would never want to be without…
Recipe: Caponata
This is a delicious appetizer from Sicily, served on crisp lettuce, crusty bread, or crisp crackers. It can also be served as a vegetable with barbecued beef or lamb. I…