Plant Profile: Sacred Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera)
Karen The sacred lotus, also known as Indian lotus, is an aquatic perennial native to tropical Asia and Australia. It is one of two extant species in the Nelumbonaceae family and…
Book Review: Tussie-Mussies: The Language of Flowers
The Victorian art of creating a bouquet of flowers with a message has an age-old appeal. Receiving flowers from an admirer is always fun but how much greater the pleasure…
Plant Profile: Noble Fir (Abies procera)
Noble fir is the largest of the firs in terms of height, diameter and wood mass and perhaps that is why it earned its common name. Native to the mountains…
Plant Profile: Incense Cedar (Calocedrus decurrens)
An evergreen native of the Pacific-northwest, California and western Nevada incense cedar is an excellent ornamental tree that can be used in the garden to add a stately ambiance even…
Plant Profile: Pittosporum (Pittosporum tobira)
This broadleaf evergreen shrub native to China, Japan, and Korea, is a tough adaptable medium-sized shrub that can be used in a variety of ways in mild climates. Upright with…
Plant Profile: Rosa ‘Gemini’
The rose ‘Gemini’ has long pointed buds with large outer petals that reflex at the tips as they unfurl to form a flower with creamy white center surrounded by a…
Plant Profile: Myrtle (Myrtus communis)
This upright evergreen shrub grown in the Mediterranean area since ancient times is especially popular in the coastal gardens of California and hot areas of Arizona. It is bushy, fine-textured,…
Plant Profile: Rose ‘Black Magic’
‘Black Magic’ is one of the most popular dark red exhibition and florist roses. The almost black color of the pointed buds becomes slightly redder as the high centered flowers…
Plant Profile: Rosa ‘Veteran’s Honor’
Introduced by Jackson and Perkins in 2000 as ‘Lady in Red’, ‘Veteran’s Honor’ is a top notch exhibition rose. The large high centered flowers open from tall, conical buds and…
Plant Profile: Blanket Flower (Gaillardia aristata ‘Fanfare’)
There are many kinds of blanket flower but ‘Fanfare’ is one of the most unique. The fluted orange petal-like flowers flaring out around the burgundy center give the flowerheads the…