Plant Profile: Yellow Flag Iris (Iris pseudacornus)
Karen Also called water flag, this herbaceous perennial is a beardless rhizomatous iris native to the wetlands of Europe, western Asia and northwest Africa. It is a member of the iris…
Plant Profile: Godetia/Farewell to Spring (Clarkia amoena)
A native of Chile and western North America from San Francisco to British Columbia, this annual was named for Captain Clark of the Lewis and Clark expedition fame. It thrives…
Five Best Spring Bulbs for Cut Flowers
As beautiful as spring bulbs are in the garden, they can be beautiful cut flowers. I plant some that I never cut and others for the sole purpose of cutting…
Book Review: Flowers: The Book of Floral Design
This large, handsome book might be mistaken for a coffee table book, but it is far more. It is full of creative ideas and practical suggestions for arranging flowers that…
Plant Profile: Woolly Yarrow (Achillea tomentosa )
This semi-evergreen, mat-forming perennial is native to the lowlands of Europe and western Asia and is a member of the aster family, Asteraceae, that also includes daisy, goldenrod and lettuce.…
Plant Profile: Mediterranean Spurge (Euphorbia characias)
If you know this shrubby perennial by its common name, Mediterranean spurge, you probably know that it thrives in dry hot climates. And you can probability guess that it languishes…
Plant Profile: Brazilian Vervain (Verbena bonariensis)
This is not a plant that will catch your eye the first moment you look at a garden but it creates a subtle mood especially when planted as a “see…
Plant Profile: Dusty Miller (Senecio cineraria)
Dusty miller is a half-hardy perennial native to the Mediterranean area and a member of the aster family, Asteraceae, that also includes daisy, yarrow, and lettuce. It grows 12-24″ tall…
How to Make a Flower from a Lemon, Lime, and Strawberry
When company is coming over you may want to dress up a tray of hors d’oeuvres or appetizers. Sure, parsley will add some color and texture but how about something…
Plant Profile: Creeping Zinnia (Sanvitalia procumbens)
When you see this plant for the first time covered with flowers you can’t help wonder how it ever got the name “zinnia”. Creeping is understandable, as it is very…