A Flowering Ode to Jefferson
Botanical plant names often prove to be a stumbling block for gardeners. They are meant to impart descriptive details about the plant, yet understanding the Latin or Greek roots of the names can prove troublesome. To add to the confusion, in some instances the botanical name honors individuals who were important in horticulture. This can be equally as mystifying since many of these honored individuals lack widespread recognition. However, one plant that should instinctually draw recognition for the honoree is Jeffersonia diphylla, commonly called Twinleaf. The name pays tribute to Thomas Jefferson…

READ THE FULL ARTICLE >

No Mere Mortal of a Flower!
Try as we must, there will always be more plants than a dedicated gardener can possibly learn in a lifetime. Trust me, I am trying! Of course, when you consider the diversity of environments found worldwide and the diversity of plants that have resulted, it is certainly understandable! The challenge is further complicated by spring ephemerals whose lifecycle dictates a 9-month period of dormancy following flowering and seed set. Garden Centers are hesitant to offer such plants, since they will appear as an unappealing pot of lifeless soil throughout the summer and fall.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE >

A Colorful and Cohesive Tan for the Winter Garden
Winter interest is a very personal topic. What one gardener finds attractive another may find mediocre at best. I have long been a fan of tan foliage in winter, a color I think most people do not associate with the term attractive or even with the term living! Interestingly, the color tan is a mixture of the very lively hues of green and red. For some plants the tan foliage of winter has a touch more red, making the foliage more glowing and warm for the winter garden. A low maintenance groundcover I have long appreciated for its warm winter foliage is Persicaria affinis, commonly called Himalayan Bistort or Lesser Knotweed.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE >

Exfoliating Bark for the Winter Garden
January brings chilly temperatures, snowfall and for the gardener, the pleasure of hunkering down in the warmth of a home with a good garden book! I have long been a fan of plants with colorful or exfoliating bark, a subtle attribute many may fail to consider and a few even find undesirable. I fondly remember the comments of a former college roommate when I showed him a tree with exfoliating bark. “I would take a belt sander to the tree” he commented! Obviously, peeling bark is not for everyone. Fortunately, that sentiment is shared by only a few and I have found many a gardener who appreciates the bark of Japanese Dogwood, botanically known as Cornus kousa.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE >