Gardeners, I think, dream bigger dreams than emperors. – Mary Cantwell
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The Herb Spiral
When visitors come up our driveway, one of the first things they see is our herb spiral, which is prominently situated just inside our "Zone 1" environment. They always ask us for details: What is this? and, Why is this bed in the shape of a spiral? It's always fun for me to explain the thinking behind this innovative garden design, and I'm glad to share the concept with you today. |
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Romancing the Roses
I've been an avid gardener for decades, but whenever the subject was roses, I always had more questions than answers. I needed a guide to lead me through the maze of varieties and classes. When I began talking with rosarians around the country, one name kept coming up: Bev Dobson. |
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Planning for Fall
The summer harvest is in full swing. Tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, corn, squash, and melons are ripening, giving us the fresh fixings for many a delicious summer meal. But the days are getting shorter and fall is on the way. It's time to think about planting to continue the harvest as the seasons change. |
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Plants to Extend Your Blooming Garden into Fall
As the heat of the summer starts to give way to cooler days and nights it's time to think about getting the most out of the fall season that lies ahead. There are a number of plants that thrive in the fall, and depending on where you live, the time is here or fast approaching when you should start planning for extending the growing season. There are plants for show, edible plants, and some that do double duty that just might fit your design and taste. Here are a few that I like. |
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Drying Flowers
What you dry is just as important as how you dry it. The drying techniques that I describe work for all flowers- come join the fun! |
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Daylily (Hemerocallis 'Final Touch')
Hybridizer: Apps Year of Registration or Introduction: 1991 Plant Traits: Bud Builder, Diurnal Bloom Traits: Bicolor or Reverse Bicolor Bloom Form: Single Color description: pink and lavender bicolor with green throat AHS Awards: Honorable Mention Plant Habit: Herb/Forb Life cycle: Perennial Sun Requirements: Full Sun to Partial Shade Flowers: Showy, Fragrant Propagation: Seeds: Will not come true from seed Propagation: Other methods: Division Ploidy: Diploid Parentage: sdlg x Love's Blush
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Dwarf Mussaenda (Mussaenda luteola)
Plant Habit: Shrub Life cycle: Perennial Sun Requirements: Full Sun to Partial Shade Water Preferences: Mesic Plant Height: 2 to 3 feet Leaves: Evergreen Flowers: Inconspicuous, Other Flower Color: Yellow Bloom Size: Under 1" Flower Time: Year Round Wildlife Attractant: Hummingbirds, Butterflies, Bees Resistances: Humidity tolerant Propagation: Other methods: Cuttings: Stem Containers: Suitable in 3 gallon or larger, Needs excellent drainage in pots
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Money Tree (Pachira aquatica)
Plant Habit: Tree Life cycle: Perennial Sun Requirements: Full Sun to Partial Shade, Partial or Dappled Shade, Partial Shade to Full Shade Water Preferences: Wet, Wet Mesic, Mesic Plant Height: To 60 feet in its native habitat. Leaves: Evergreen, Broadleaf Fruit: Edible to birds, Other Flowers: Showy, Fragrant, Other Flower Color: Other Bloom Size: 3"-4" Flower Time: Year Round Underground structures: Taproot Suitable Locations: Street Tree, Houseplant Uses: Shade Tree, Flowering Tree Edible Parts: Fruit, Flowers, Leaves Eating Methods: Raw, Cooked Resistances: Humidity tolerant Propagation: Other methods: Cuttings: Stem Containers: Suitable in 3 gallon or larger, Needs excellent drainage in pots
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Cutleaf Coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata 'Goldquelle')
Plant Habit: Herb/Forb Life cycle: Perennial Sun Requirements: Full Sun to Partial Shade Water Preferences: Wet Mesic, Mesic Plant Height: 26-30 inches Plant Spread: 18-20 inches Flowers: Showy Bloom Size: 2"-3" Flower Time: Summer, Late summer or early fall, Late fall or early winter, Fall Underground structures: Rhizome Uses: Will Naturalize Wildlife Attractant: Birds Propagation: Seeds: Self fertile Propagation: Other methods: Division Pollinators: Various insects, Bees, Moths and Butterflies, Hoverflies
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Photo by RachaelHunter
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Photo by dirtdorphins
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Photo by janwax
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Photo by RachaelHunter
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Photo by RachaelHunter
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Photo by Totally_Amazing
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Photo by SuperHappyCamper
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Photo by BlueOddish
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Photo by Baja_Costero
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Photo by Totally_Amazing
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Active threads from our forums:
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The numbers from this week:
303 members joined.
4,031 posts written in our forums.
1,817 photos posted to the plant database.
1,253 plants added to personal inventory lists.
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A good garden may have some weeds.
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