Plant Profile: Japanese Andromeda (Pieris japonica)
Karen Early blooming evergreen shrubs are very special for year round interest in the garden and Pieris japonica is one of the best. Its large drooping clusters of small, waxy lily-of-the-valley-like…
A Visit to Scotney Castle and Gardens, Lamberhurst, Kent, England
Perched high on a hill Scotney New Castle overlooks a beautiful view of the ruins of Scotney Old Castle in the valley below. The Old Castle was built c.1378-80 and…
Name This Plant Game: Early Blooming Plants 1
This simple game tests your gardening knowledge by identifying five plants shown in photos from a list of possible names. Two photos of each plant are accompaned by a clue…
Plant Profile: Snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis)
Native to the woodlands of much of Europe, other than Great Britain and northern Europe, this early blooming bulb is a member of the amaryllis family, Amaryllidaceae, that also includes…
How to Care for a Bouquet of Flowers
A beautiful bouquet of flowers can brighten even the grayest days. Whether you buy a bouquet for yourself or receive one in celebration of Valentines Day, your birthday, anniversary, or…
Plant Profile: Glory-of-the-Snow (Chionodoxa forbesii )
When snow, ice, wind and gray skies seem endless this little treasure is sure to give you hope that spring is just around the corner. It is often the first…
A Visit to Hardwick Hall and Gardens, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England
The Tudor house with its huge glass windows stands on the summit of a wind-swept hill; it is impressive and it was meant to be. It was built by Elizabeth,…
Memory Game: Flowers (level 1)
This is a three level game. In the first level match the flower photos, in the second level match the flower photo with the common name, and in the third,…
Plant Profile: Variegated Winter Daphne (Daphne odora ‘Aureo-marginata’)
Be prepared for a princess with this shrub but it’s worth it. In late winter or early spring the shrub bears clusters of pink to white to red flowers that…
How to Buy Flowers for Valentines Day
A bouquet of flowers on Valentines Day is a wonderful way to please the special person in your life but flowers at Valentines Day are expensive. I offer these tips…