Crawford’s Corner

If you have further questions, please write to Bruce at Crawford@njaes.rutgers.edu

• June 2026 Plant of the Month – Bowman’s Root
  Beauty is Worth a Second Attempt I am not certain if it is forgetfulness or simply a lack of patience, but I am always astonished at the number of times I have grown a plant unsuccessfully and opted not to try it again until many years later. A case in point is Bowman’s Root, botanically known ...
• Gardening Notes for June 2026
  Summer has arrived! The days are wonderfully long, rain has mostly proven to be adequate while the temperatures promise to be more summer-like. The June blooms of Beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis), the late blooming Drumstick Allium (Allium sphaerocephalon) and Oakleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) are giving the garden great color….. READ THE FULL ARTICLE > Bruce Crawford
• May 2026 Plant of the Month – Mayapple
  The Bold and Beautiful By and large, spring ephemerals require a bit of trial and error before gardeners understand how best to use them in the spring garden. By definition, this group of plants emerge in early spring, flower, set seed and enter dormancy around the start of summer. Their strategy is to complete their annual ...
• Gardening Notes for May 2026
  With the chill of March and the showers of April behind us, early May looks to provide a wonderful assortment of spring ‘bloomers’, such as the Woodland Peony, the Hardy Gladiolus or the Smooth Rose to mention but just a few…. READ THE FULL ARTICLE > Bruce Crawford
• April 2026 Plant of the Month – Trillium
  Good Things Come in Three There is an old saying that “good things come in threes”. Supposedly, it stems from an ancient belief that three of something is complete and ideal. Hence, “third time is the charm” and, should you have the good fortune of uncorking a Genie, you might be the beneficiary of three wishes!… READ ...
• Gardening Notes for April 2026
  Happy Spring! I had a feeling in February that spring would never arrive! Arrive it did, along with all those springtime tasks. Always remember to take a moment and enjoy those wonderful springtime blooms we have waited all winter to enjoy, such as Bloodroot, Virginia Bluebell and Fragrant Sumac… READ THE FULL ARTICLE > Bruce Crawford
• March 2026 Plant of the Month – Spring Snowflake
  Magical Snowflakes Snowflakes are magical! Even after this past winter, I suspect most people will still admit snowflakes have a certain enchanting quality. However, for some gardeners, snowflakes do not come from the air but from the ground! Leucojum vernum or Spring Snowflake is among the first of the bulbs to come into bloom, often beginning ...
• Gardening Notes for March 2026
  March can be such a finicky month. Fortunately, plants including Adonis (Pheasant’s Eye), Narcissus (species form of Daffodil) and Hamamelis (Diane Witchhazel) are tolerant of the vagaries of the weather! So far it has been a snowy winter, which is good for insulating herbaceous plants from the frequent single digit temps!… READ THE ...
• February 2026 Plant of the Month – The Willow
  Willows for Winter It’s February! Although the garden is still emersed in winters grasp, February brings growing signs that spring is not far away. Evergreens are certainly one stalwart sign of life, yet there are a number of plants with colorful stems or unfurling flower buds that show the garden is still very much alive despite ...
• Gardening Notes for February 2026
  February! It may still be in the midst of winter, but some plants are beginning to awaken or show interest, as seen in the images above! On warmer days, make it a point to walk through your garden to enjoy its beauty and give thought to late winter or spring improvements… READ THE FULL ARTICLE ...