Plant A Patch -- American Bittersweet ( Celastrus scandens)
American bittersweet can be counted on to give spring, summer, fall and winter beauty. This native vine, which grows well in poor to average soil, prefers full sun for maximum flower and fruit production, but it will also tolerate part shade. The greenish-white to yellow blooms appear in May and June. In late …
The Not So Secret Life of Bees -- Part Two, Designing for Bees
The more I read about bees and their relatives, wasps and flies, the more fascinated I become with these tiny powerhouses and the more I understand why people are so passionate about providing for them and protecting them.As we mentioned in last week’s blog, honeybees may be the most well-known bee, but it is certainly …
Plant A Patch : Aromatic Aster -- (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium)
An exceptional plant for the fall pollinator garden, the showy bluish-purple Aromatic aster blooms are beloved by birds, butterflies, bees and other pollinators and they make excellent cut flowers.These asters, that typically grow in a mounded shape 24 inches tall, thrive in full sun and tolerate dry, rocky or clay soils. …
Freshen Your Yard for Fall
This past weekend was the first time in a long time that I was able to sit with a cup of coffee and honestly critique the gardens that I have put in the backyard so far. It was truly depressing! I tried to rationalize that they were still relatively new and that the weather had …
Plant A Patch -- Shining Blue Star (Amsonia illustris)
. The Shining Blue Star is indeed a shining star of the garden, featuring clusters of blue flowers in the spring, glossy green leaves throughout the summer and brilliant gold foliage in the fall. Also called Ozark blue star, this native perennial prefers a full sun location but will also bloom well in partial shade. …
Plant A Patch: Fall Glade Onion -- (Allium stellatum)
Also called the prairie onion, this late blooming native prefers full sun with some lightly dappled shade in extreme heat. It does well in sandy or rocky soils and will thrive in shallow soil. The green, grass-like leaves, which often disappear before the 12 – 18 inch flower stalks, give off a strong scent of …
Rethinking Lawns -- Part 2: Variations on a Theme
After almost two years of fighting a lost cause, we are truly ready to take the plunge. Once the heat of the summer dissipates, we are going to kill off the sorry patch of existing “lawn” we have and start over with an entirely new look. So far, I’ve had an interesting reaction …
Plant A Patch: Copper Iris (Iris fulva)
A perfect plant for use in a rain garden or as a water plant , the copper iris takes its name from its unique reddish-copper color blooms which appear in May and June.Small plants, they typically reach about 2 feet in height. They love full sun, but will tolerate part shade if planted in …
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