Many amateur gardeners say that growing alpines from seed is a complicated procedure, not to be attempted in the home garden. I have grown thousands of alpines here in my Pennsylvania garden, and find that raising them from seed is both a simple and pleasant pastime. The first, and one of the most important steps, … Read more
Most woody plants have green leaves throughout the growing season, but some have different colored foliage in the early Spring, and because of this, they may be given special varietal names. These colors may be pronounced – for a few weeks as the plants start into growth -but in many plants, these colors gradually give … Read more
What, to plants, is the meaning of shade? Have we ever asked ourselves why the sunflower loves the sun, the wood anemone the woods? Why is it that certain plants can be grown successfully in partial or even dense shade while others scarcely seem able to exist without abundant sunlight? The two plants cited have … Read more
If you were to order from a nursery a couple of dozen small rhododendrons and/or azaleas in the fall to grow in your garden for future landscaping purposes, how would you plant and prepare them for winter months ahead? Although spring is the orthodox season for planting rhododendrons, they can also be set out early … Read more
If you’re looking for a beautiful and easy to care for cactus, Notocactus scopa is an excellent option. Notocactus scopa is a type of cactus that is native to South America. It is part of the greater Notocactus family, which includes over 100 different species. Notocactus scopa specifically gets its name from the Latin word … Read more
Rebutia fiebrigii is a member of the cactus family, native to Bolivia. It is an abundant species, living in the Andes Mountains at altitudes between 7,000 – 13,000 feet. In their native habitat, they grow on rocky slopes, plateaus, and grassland valleys that are fully exposed to the elements. Because of the harsh conditions, Rebutia … Read more
No one could fairly call the shagbark hickory (Carya ovata) beautiful. It is a little on the rough-diamond side, with strong, often ungainly limbs that seem to have a variety of individual ideas on where or how to grow. coupled with a determination to carry them out. If shagbarks were human they would probably wear … Read more
The common lilac, Syringa vulgaris, and its hundreds of forms and hybrids have always been garden favorites. Their beauty and fragrance have led horticulturists to expect too much from the approximately 20 late-blooming lilac species that have only recently been introduced into gardens. As a result, there has been rather severe criticism of them as … Read more
Insects aren’t the only pests with which the gardener has to contend. Many other animals, both large and small, frequently cause damage to plants. Still, others are hazards to people and pets, and some are just plain nuisances. Birds Even the most avid bird lover will admit that some birds can be a nuisance. Take … Read more
One sometimes hears landscape people bemoan the lack of low-growing evergreen material, so much needed now for the new types of low-walled homes. There is quite a hit of lovely material, especially among the broad-leaf evergreens, that has not yet been widely propagated and publicized. A newcomer to the broad-leaf evergreen group is a dwarf … Read more