Name: Zizia aurea aka golden Alexander Type of Plant: A native perennial (hardy in Zone 3 to 8) that has yellow flowers in late May into early June. Why I Love/Hate this plant: Okay…I admit it. I first bought this plant 20 years ago so I could...
If you're growing rhubarb, you've got the main ingredient for a pie or crisp. But don't stop with these traditional uses of the rhubarb stems. Rhubarb makes wonderful cookies and cocktails. Here's the rhubarb celebration that I cooked up today. Rhubarb Cocktail Syrup 3 cups of Rhubarb,...
If there's one good thing about the COVID-19 pandemic, it's that we're reminded to tell people that we care about them. People are gathering for cocktails via Zoom and checking in on others with a phone call or email. I've done several online classes and...
Name: Geranium x cantabrigiense ‘Biokovo’ Type of Plant: A gently spreading perennial cranesbill geranium, hardy in Zones 5 to 8, and thriving in full sun to part shade. Why I Love/Hate this plant: I love this plant for use as “socks and shoes” for shrubs and taller...
Name: Cedrus atlantica 'Glauca' aka blue atlas cedar Type of Plant: A slow growing evergreen tree with an open habit and blue needles. Although this tree has a pyramidal shape when young, as it ages it becomes more flat-topped and wide spreading. This tree isn’t prone...
Name: Rhododendron ‘Olga Mezitt’ Type of Plant: Mounding but open-habit, evergreen shrub that’s hardy in Zones 4 to 8. Why I Love/Hate this plant: We know and love the first Rhododendron to bloom in this area, the PJM. That plant, with lavender flowers, was named for Peter...
Name: Mayapple aka Podophyllum peltatum Type of Plant: Native wild flower that appears in spring but goes dormant in the summer. Hardy from zones 3 to 8 and grows best in full to part shade. Prefers rich, organically amended soils. (In other words, it loves the...
Name: Wolf Eye Dogwood aka Cornus kousa ‘Wolf Eyes’ Type of Plant: This small tree is a variegated version of the popular kousa dogwood. The leaves are not only green and white, but wavy on the edges as well. You can find single trunk versions, or...
Name: Aloysia citriodora aka lemon verbena Type of Plant: In areas where this plant is hardy, Zones 8 – 10, it’s a small shrub. But in colder climates this herb is treated as an annual. Why I Love/Hate this plant: It’s the definition of aromatherapy! Pick a...
Name: Hyacinthus orientalis aka garden hyacinths. Type of Plant: These spring flowers grow from bulbs that are typically planted in the fall outdoors, but they are also available in pots in garden centers right now. They come in a variety of colors and are...
