Plant Profile: Golden Columbine (Aquilegia chrysantha)
Karen This herbaceous perennial is a native of southwestern United States including parts of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado and Utah were it grows in moist places in sheltered canyons. It…
Plant Profile: Wall Germander (Teucrium chamaedrys aka T. x lucidrys)
This broadleaf evergreen, creeping shrub is native to southern Europe and the Mediterranean. Its attractive aromatic foliage forms a low mound of dark green oval leaves with scalloped margins on…
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…
Shakespeare’s Garden: Columbine
Columbine belongs to the genus Aquilegia that has over 65 species, many of which are good garden plants. The columbine of Shakespeare was probably Aquilegia vulgaris, an excellent garden plant…
Plant Profile: Morning Glory (Ipomoea tricolor)
Native to the New World tropics this tender perennial vine is a member of the Convolvulaceae family that also includes sweet potato, cypress vine, and dodder. The plant grows up…
Plant Profile: ‘Coconut Punch’ Dianthus
Full, double, clove-scented, deep red and white flowers bloom on compact mounds of grey-green foliage in early summer and may continue sporadically until fall when another flush occurs. This cultivar…
Book Review: America’s Cottage Gardens: Imaginative Variations on the Classic Garden Style
The charming image of an eighteenth century English cottage garden is a dream to most gardeners in North America but not a reality for most of us. We have a…
Plant Profile: California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica)
California poppy is one of the toughest, easiest to grow plants. It is native to the west coast from southern Washington to Baja California and east to Nevada, Arizona, and…
Plant Profile: Lily Leek (Allium moly)
A native of southern Europe, lily leek has long enjoyed a rich past. It is said to be the “Moly” that saved Ulysses from the charms of Circe as described…
Characteristics of Informal Gardens
Chuck The carefree relaxed look of an informal garden is very appealing. But don’t be deceived into believing that this look comes naturally. The best informal gardens are carefully planned, executed…