Sciadopitys – A Beautiful Plant That May Fool You
I cannot recall how many times I have failed to understand the very basic parts of plant anatomy, even when it appeared so obvious! For example, I once thought Asters had petals typical of most flowering plants. I was wrong. With Dogwoods, I mistakenly thought the showy flowers had petals and I was only partially correct in thinking Magnolia flowers had petals. Yes, it no longer comes as a surprise when I am wrong. However, I was totally surprised to learn the beautiful, glossy ‘foliage’ of the Japanese Umbrella Pine, botanically known as Sciadopitys verticillata is not true foliage at all!…

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Candytuft – A Smart Evergreen for Generations to Come
The qualities of what makes a plant garden worthy are always changing and my personal sentiments are certainly no different! As a beginning gardener, I was drawn to the ‘latest and greatest’ and discounted the more ‘seasoned plants’ at my grandparent’s home as no longer garden worthy. As I have watched plants come and go over the decades, I am continually frustrated by the disappearance of some great, garden-worthy plants to make way for the next round of the ‘latest and greatest’…

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Very Curious Shrubs!
December is not a month known for colorful foliage among deciduous and semi-deciduous plants. Typically, plants are now nearly bare, although with the advent of the Holidays and family get-togethers, the lack of garden interest is probably little noticed. Yet, for those looking for seasonally appropriate garden color, there are a few semi-deciduous plants suitable for Holiday cheer…

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Worthy Plants for Remembering Worthy Friends
How often have you looked at a plant and the memory of a friend suddenly comes to mind? Most likely, it is the person who gifted you the plant, first told you about its virtues or perhaps even disliked the plant! In a similar vein, many plants have botanical or common names that pay tribute to an honorable friend or perhaps a ‘botanical dignitary’. Such is the tale of Amsonia tabernaemontana, commonly known as Eastern Bluestar….

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An Unrecognized Hardy Begonia
Regardless of whether I am talking to an experienced gardener or nongardener alike, some plants are simply recognized by everyone. For example, Pansies are well-known for colorful spring color, petunias for their summer blooms and Chrysanthemums for frosty autumn displays. Begonias are another well-recognized plant, typically known as a houseplant or summer annual…

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