Name: Fagus sylvatica 'Riversii' aka purple leaf beech, River's purple European beech, or copper beech Type of Plant: A very large, deciduous tree for those who have the space. Hardy in Zones 4-7, this tree grows to 40 or 50 feet tall and 20 to 30...
Sometimes it's great to appreciate a plant that doesn't live everywhere, doesn't flower all summer, and can't be kept "under control." Name: Baccharis halimifolia aka groundsel, eastern baccharis or groundseltree Type of Plant: A medium to large native shrub that flowers in October and thrives on the...
Name: Pennisetum purpureum ‘Tift 8’ aka Vertigo fountain grass Type of Plant: An annual grass in colder climates (hardy in Zone 8-11) that’s tall (4 feet or more) and showy. Why I Love/Hate this plant: I love this grass because of the total drama it brings to...
Name: Myrica pensylvanica aka bayberry Type of Plant: Native shrub or small tree for full sun and sandy soils Why I Love/Hate this plant: In dry summers, this is one of the plants that shows little sign of drought stress. This shrub is either male or female...
Name: Dolichos lablab ‘Silver Moon’ aka Lablab purpureus ‘Silver Moon’ Type of Plant: A fast growing annual vine that you can grow from seed. Why I Love/Hate this plant: If you need an annual vine to fill a trellis or other structure quickly, have I got a...
Yesterday I spent about an hour touring our property and taking a photo of every plant that was in bloom. Okay, not every plant, and not every flower. I took one two photos of Hydrangea paniculata flowers, for example, but did not take pictures of...
Name: Mecardonia GoldDust Type of Plant: An annual from Proven Winners that is heat tolerant, long-flowering, and totally low-maintenance. This annual does well in full sun to part-sun, and can be used in the ground or in containers. Why I Love/Hate this plant This is one of...
This morning I was on Mindy Todd's program on WCAI/NAN, and mentioned a few things that were making me happy. Here are some of those plants and more garden experiences that are making me smile. [caption id="attachment_21392" align="aligncenter" width="800"] It's vegetable harvest time! My favorite thing...
Sometime ago I put up the graphic posted below, about how I came to be a garden communicator. Although I've always loved plants and gardens, it wasn't my intention of being a professional in that area until we moved to Cape Cod in 1993. It...
Name: Eryngium x zabelii ‘Big Blue’ aka big blue sea holly Type of Plant: A striking perennial for full sun and well-drained soil. Hardy in Zones 5 to 9. Why I Love/Hate this plant Big blue sea holly is an upright variety of a perennial plant with...