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November 27, 2024

 

Cardboard on flower bed to smother weeds

Zealous Spreaders

There are some plants that are so aggressive in the way that they spread in a garden bed that they are called over-zealous and invasive.

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November 21, 2024

 

A shovel and two clumps of hostas on a driveway

Dividing Plants

Many perennials like to be divided in the fall, especially if they have outgrown their space or have ceased blooming well.

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November 14, 2024

 

Dried flowers of various colors and textures

Potpourri

Making potpourri from flowers is an easy dried-flower craft. It smells lovely and makes a great gift and looks pretty in bowls, baskets, and jars, reminding us of summer.

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November 7, 2024

 

A path of colorful marigolds in a cemetary celebrating the Day of the Dead

American Marigolds

The marigold flower is used abundantly today in Mexico to celebrate the Day of the Dead, when both fresh and dried flowers adorn cemeteries and graves. The flower heads are also used to make a tea to drink.

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October 31, 2024

 

Dried flowers, crystals, and herbs on a table

Magical Powers

Plant symbolism from ancient times is still noticeable in our language as well. We talk of the strength of an oak, the purity of a lily, and an olive branch for peace.

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October 24, 2024

 

Black-eyed Susans standing up against a blue sky

Our Native Rudbeckia

No one has been able to discover the identity of the Susan who gave her name to this easily grown garden perennial.

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October 17, 2024

 

Turk's cap lily visited by a spicebush swallowtail butterfly

Our Native Lilies

One spectacular lily is Lilium superb, spelled “superbum,” but it is not pronounced as it is spelt. Its petals recurve, so a common name is Turk's cap.

October 10, 2024

 

Pink blooms of native Physostegia virginiana

Our Native Physostegia

The Latin name “Physostegia” refers to the calyx, which covers their seed pods. “Physa” means bladder and “stege” means a covering.

October 3, 2024

 

A bouquet of goldenrod

Our Native Solidago

When goldenrods are in bloom, it indicates that fall is in the air...and they do NOT cause hay fever (That is ragweed!), as the pollen of goldenrod is too heavy to be dispersed by the wind.

September 26, 2024

 

Blue bloom of Lobelia siphilitica

Our Native Lobelia

The lobelia family is extremely diverse but there are two American natives that are hardy perennials: Lobelia cardinalis and Lobelia siphilitica.

September 18, 2024

 

Wild petunia, Ruellia humilis

Wild Petunia

Many years ago, I bought a perennial plant at a nursery, and after I planted it, found that there was a ride-along plant in the pot. It was a wild petunia.

September 12, 2024

 

Liatris in bloom

Our Native Liatris

There are few flowers like liatris in the flower world, as the blooms open on top of the stalks first, and the ones on the bottom open last.

September 5, 2024

 

Red blossoms of Heuchera sanguinea, aka coral bells

Heuchera sanguinea

Coral bells flowers from spring into fall if it has moist, rich soil. Plant masses of coral bells in the front of your borders and water them well.

August 29, 2024

 

Purple Eupatorium purpureum, aka Joe Pye weed

Eupatorium purpureum

Our native Eupatorium purpureum, commonly known as Joe Pye weed, flowers in late summer and fall, producing tall clusters of fluffy purple flowers.

August 22, 2024

 

Scale-like green and purple leaves of creeping thyme

Groundcovers

Ground cover plants are a bit like area rugs in our homes, as we can mix and match them or plant many of the same type of plant to cover bare patches.

August 15, 2024

 

Helenium in bloom

Helenium

In a cultivated garden, Helenium looks best with other yellow or bronze flowers that bloom in the fall, and they light up a flower bed as the growing season draws to a close.

August 8, 2024

 

Gaura in bloom

Gaura

If you especially enjoy delicate, airy types of flowers, then you should grow Gaura to enjoy in your garden and in flower arrangements.

August 1, 2024

 

Coreopsis tinctoria

Tickseed

The word Coreopsis is from the Greek word koris meaning bug and opsis meaning resemblance to. This is because the seeds of coreopsis took like small ticks.

July 23, 2024

 

A field of Queen Anne's lace in bloom.

Queen Anne's Lace

Farmers don't care for wild carrots that grow in their fields and on roadsides and produce thousands of seeds that produce more plants.

July 18, 2024

 

Purple and white coneflowers in a garden.

Native Coneflower

Coneflowers bloom from mid-summer to early fall and combine well with most other flowering perennials.

July 11, 2024

 

The White Garden at Sissinghurst Castle

Vita's White Garden

Vita Sackville West's white garden at Sissinghurst Castle in England is world famous. Here's a quotation, describing it in her own words.

July 3, 2024

 

Eastern Black Swallowtail on a purple coneflower

Butterflies in the Garden

Many butterflies that visit zone 6 gardens can also be found as far north as Canada and as far south as Mexico. It is amazing that a monarch butterfly, for example, looks so delicate but can fly from here to Mexico and back.

June 27, 2024

 

White and yellow flowers of Chrysanthemum parthenium, aka feverfew

Chrysanthemum parthenium

The botanical name for feverfew is Chrysanthemum parthenium because according to Plutarch a worker fell during the construction of the Greek parthenon, and his life was saved by this plant’s medicinal properties. The common name of feverfew is because it is used to reduce fevers.

June 20, 2024

 

Proven Winners’ tag for patented lantana plant

Patents

In 1995, the patents’ length of time was extended, so that now breeders can collect royalties on a plant for 20 years.

June 13, 2024

 

Purple flowers at Sissinghurst Gardens

Purple Plantings

Today, I am quoting from Vita Sackville West who is discussing planting a border with flowers ranging in color from pale mauve through rich purple.

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