Plant Profile: Giant Dogwood (Cornus controversa)
Karen The horizontal branching of this deciduous tree native to China and Japan creates a tiered effect and earned it the second common name, wedding cake tree. The distinctive look is…
Book Review: The Inward Garden: Creating a Place of Beauty and Meaning
Garden design can mean many different things to different people but to author Julie Moir Messervy, it is a journey of discovery. It involves looking within ourselves and creating a…
Weeds and Their Control: Carolina Geranium (Geranium carolinianum)
Carolina chickweed is native to Eastern United States but is known throughout North America where it is a winter annual from Zone 6 southward but a spring weed in northern…
Plant Profile: Star Magnolia (Magnolia stellata)
This native of Japan is a small deciduous tree or large shrub that provides a beautiful display of flowers in spring. The white or pink tinged flowers are star-shaped, three…
Gardens of Pompeii: Animals in the Garden
The Romans enjoyed animals in the garden just as we do. Birds, dogs, cats, and fish all had a place in Roman life. Evidence for the presence of animals in…
Plant Profile: Floribunda Rose ‘Fabulous!’
Be sure to notice the exclamation point at the end of the name because there is a double orange blend hybrid tea by the same name but without the exclamation…
Book Review: Ladybugs
One of the first insects a child is likely to enjoy is a ladybug. With its bright red color and black spots the common ladybug is appealing and makes a…
Weeds and Their Control: Wild Garlic (Allium vineale)
A native of Europe, wild garlic was brought to North America in soil used as ballast in ships. It has become an invasive weed in many parts of the eastern…
Plant Profile: Autumn Pineapple Lily (Eucomis autumnalis)
Neither a pineapple nor a true lily, this native of South Africa is related to hyacinths and asparagus but has a tuft of leaves above the flowers that gives them…
How to Care for Bonsai: Desert Rose (Adenium obesum)
This succulent bush from the dry desert areas of East Africa and Arabia is sparsely branched with very thick stems and a swollen caudex. The fleshy leaves are spirally arranged…