Herb Garden: Five Beautiful Shrubs for the Dye Garden
Karen You might never dye your own cloth but having an herb garden that features plants historically used in dye making is an interesting and enjoyable endeavor. The colors are usually…
Plant Profile: ‘Ogon’ Dwarf Sweet Flag (Acorus gramineus ‘Ogon’)
The cascading clumps of dwarf sweet flag make a graceful addition to a border and are especially useful where moist or wet soil prevails. Dwarf sweet flag likes boggy to…
Book Review: Rocks, Dirt, Worms, and Weeds
Helping children appreciate the wonder of nature and the merits of gardening is a long lasting legacy parents and grandparents can pass on to their children and grandchildren. Jeff Hutton’s…
Characteristics of Old Garden Roses: China Roses
When China roses were introduced into the West at the end of the 1700s, rose growing changed dramatically. Rosa chinensis brought a new gene pool to the West that introduced…
Plant Profile: Siberian Graybeard (Spodiopogon sibiricus)
Also known as frost grass, Siberian graybeard is an attractive clump forming grass that looks something like bamboo. The bright green leaves often turn red or burgundy in the fall.…
Herb Garden: Five Herbs to Grow for a Soothing Bath
When you are tired, frustrated, angry, or distraught a warm bath may be the best thing to relieve stress and bring back a sense of well-being. Add soothing herbs to…
Plant Profile: Parry’s Agave (Agave parryi)
Also known as mescal agave, this species is a native of Arizona and New Mexico and is more cold hardy than other agaves. It has silver-green heavily toothed leaves that…
Book Review: Halloween Pumpkins and Parties
If you are having trouble coming up with great ideas for Halloween this book is a great source of ideas. It includes directions for all things associated with Halloween from…
Flowers for Arrangements: Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus cultivars)
Children and adults alike love snapdragons. Their common name comes from the fact that when a floret is squeezed on its sides, it opens and closes its dragon’s-like mouth. Look…
Plant Profile: ‘Low Down’ Willow-Leaved Sunflower (Helianthus salicifolius ‘Low Down’)
If you love sunflowers but find you can’t accommodate them because of their great height, this is a sunflower to consider. A perennial, it forms a compact clump of foliage…