Shirley Poppies: Their Hearts Were In It
One morning back in 1880, Mr. Wilks, Vicar of Shirley in England, noticed a patch of wild field poppies, one with a very narrow edge of white. He marked it
Paint a Picture with House Plants
Gardeners do not need paints to make a picture. With a palette of living plants, they can paint a memorable composition, drawing from a wealth of material that is both
There’s Nothing Quite like Gardening in Florida
Part One: The Plan, The Journey, and the First Two Months “Oh, it’s wonderful to be able to retire . . . and you’re moving to Florida! But won’t you
The Long-Stalk Holly (Ilex Pedunculosa) -Unusual Holly
There are many plants of outstanding merit that, for one reason or another, are ignored for years, only to come into style again suddenly. The long-stalk holly (Ilex pedunculosa), a
Welcome Birds to Your Garden
Recently while shopping at a garden center, I overheard a salesman suggest to his customer that she add a birdhouse to her purchases, which included insecticides, sprays, and dust. “I’m
Winter Decorations: There’s Variety in Pods and Cones
Wherever you live, there are all sorts of materials within your reach that you can use as winter decorations. Just step outside and let your imagination have free rein. You
The Box Huckleberry: The Oldest Flowering Plant?
Ordinarily, when mention is made of the world’s oldest living plants, we think of the California sequoias. Or we may recall that some bryologists maintain that peat moss plants growing
Some Interesting House Plants For You To Try
Alternanthera This colorful, little Alternanthera is a lovely flower with narrow lanceolate leaves. It makes a very effective edging plant. Its leaves, variegated with crimson, pink, green, brown, orange, and
Rugged Hollies Are Not Hard To Grow
One clear, cold December day, after a light fall of snow, I took a friend to see an unusual holly tree growing in a glade in the woods; You came
Fluorescent Gardening
The recent advent of the seemingly-intense indoor lighting with fluorescent bulbs has naturally caused many indoor gardeners to wonder if plants could be grown under this light. According to extensive