HUMUS is the life of your soil. Without it, the soil is inactive and unable to produce plants and flowers. Humus is the loose, crumbly material that results from the decay of organic matter, such as: Leaves Grass clippings Garden waste Peat moss Decayed sawdust Or any such material Humus is important because it retains … Read more
It wouldn’t surprise you if you found a stapelia growing on a window sill on Mars. Even in its native Africa, this strange plant has an out-of-this-world look. Botanically, it is described as a succulent with four-angled, leafless sterns. It grows quite close to the ground, never reaching more than a foot in height. All … Read more
The viburnum clan contains several excellent shrubs for the small property. Among these is the linden viburnum, so named because the leaves are somewhat the same size and shape as those of the linden tree. This viburnum is a native of China and Japan, where it is a highly prized garden plant. Nearly half of … Read more
Blueberries of a special brilliance, hardly approached by those of any other hardy plant, make the sapphire berry particularly well named. This display is at its best in many sections of the country in September, although it may start somewhat earlier in the southern states. The effect of a well-grown specimen, with its branchlets arching … Read more
Aluminum greenhouses are nothing new to gardeners in Great Britain. They have been used extensively in many parts of the world. In 1950’s America, only a few had been erected primarily for experimental purposes. What makes an aluminum greenhouse different from our conventional steel and wooden houses? Simply, an aluminum frame means no rust, no … Read more
Cistus purpureus [SIS-tus, pur-PUR-ee-us] is a perennial shrub, known for its bushy evergreen foliage and large purplish-pink flowers. It’s native to the Mediterranean region, where it grows in rocky soil, along with other plants in the Cistus genus. Commonly called rockroses, Cistus plants belong to the Cistaceae family, which only contains about 20 species. The … Read more
With cooler weather this month, the garden takes on a lively look. Annuals are blooming hysterically, lawns are a glistening green, and chrysanthemums, the flower of the season, have burst into glorious reds, goldens, purples, oranges, and whites. As the garden at the end of the day becomes rejuvenated by the cool of the evening, … Read more
On these busy days, homeowners are interested in gardens that require a minimum of care. Whether gardeners know plants well or simply like to “grow things” the first step is to consider the planning, planting, and upkeep. Otherwise, it is easy to become involved in both. The design and size of the garden must conform … Read more
Justicia brandegeana, also known as the Mexican shrimp plant, shrimp plant, or false hop, is a native Mexican shrub also popular in Florida. The plant’s nickname comes from the shrimp-like shape of the bronze flowers that grow around its exterior. The plant blooms annually, continuously replacing its white flower heads with new growth. The shrimp … Read more
Duchesnea indica, now commonly known as Potentilla indica (poh-ten-TILL-uh IN-dih-kuh), is an evergreen perennial belonging to the genus Potentilla and a member of the family Rosaceae, also called the rose family. It was previously named Duchesnea indica and originally Fragaria indica but was changed into Potentilla indica because botanists considered this plant most closely related … Read more