Plant Profile: Pale Purple Coneflower (Echinacea pallida)
Karen Pale purple coneflower is a herbaceous perennial native to the eastern half of the US where it grows in open areas on a variety of soils. It is a member…
Book Review: Eddies Garden
Involving children in planting a garden is a wonderful way of building family ties and inspiring a love of plants and growing flowers and vegetables. Sarah Garland’s book, Eddie’s Garden,…
Growing Plants from Seed: Zinnia (Zinnia elegans)
Zinnia are warm weather annuals native to Central America, Mexico, and southwestern US. They are grown for their intensely colored flowers which are held singly on long stems. Flowers may…
Plant profile: Spotted Bellflower (Campanula punctata)
Spotted bellflower is a herbaceous perennial native to Japan and Siberia where it grows in lowlands on disturbed soil such as roadsides and fields. The light green leaves are triangular…
Striped Hybrid Tea Roses
For an exotic look in the garden try a striped rose. It might not be your thing but it is eye-catching and adds a diversity that can spark a new…
Plant Profile: Jacob’s Ladder (Polemonium caeruleum)
Also called Greek valerian, this clump-perennial is native to the cool parts of Europe and Asia where it grows in broad-leaf forests and moist grasslands and meadows. It has medium…
Book Review: Plant This Instead!
Bored by growing the same old plants year after year? Tired of pulling out the invasive plants that crowd out their neighbors? Sorry that you bought that perennial that was…
Plant Combination: Nepeta x faassenii ‘Walker’s Low’ and Pink Evening Primrose (Oenothera speciosa)
For a lovely contrast in color and texture, Nepeta ‘Walkers’ Low’ and pink evening primrose are a great choice for a late spring to early summer border. Nepeta ‘Walker’s Low’…
Plant Profile: Sharp Lobed Hepatica (Hepatica acutiloba aka H. nobilis var. acuta)
Sharp-lobed hepatica, also called heart liverleaf, is a herbaceous perennial in the buttercup family (Ranunculaeae) and is native to eastern US where it is found in moist shady woodlands. Although…
Soapworts for the Garden (Saponaria spp)
Saponaria is a genus of annuals and perennials in the pink family, Caryophyllaceae, native to Europe and Asia. Of the thirty to forty species in the genus, three perennials are…