All About Summersweet
This easy-going, underused native shrub deserves more attention. Learn what makes this sweet-smelling shrub so special.
Environmental Gardening at Behnke’s
Those of you who have shopped here for many years may remember that we used to have our shade and flowering tree display area on the south side of our main driveway (that is, between Route 1 and the parking…
Goldfinches and Monarchs, a Perfect Pair
Hardly do we ever think of these two creatures together, and yet, by planting Black-eyed Susans and Milkweed we are inviting the two to co-mingle. (Don’t fret, Goldfinches are seed eaters.) Really, the two aren’t likely to go palling around…
4 Favorite Native Shrubs
Summersweet / Sweet Pepperbush (Clethra) Very aptly named, this shrub will impress you with its sweet scent in the middle of summer when fewer fragrant plants are flowering. Flowers are white or pink spires that are highly attractive to bees,…
Butterfly/Pollinator Gardening Made Easy
A newbie butterfly gardener in Greenbelt recently asked the local email group for their plant suggestions for her new garden, and local gardeners had some to offer. But my top tip would be for her to consult with Karen Coppens…
The New Native Plant Garden at the NYBG
While I was visiting New York City earlier this month I didn’t JUST visit the High Line. Also on my agenda was the Native Plant Garden at the New York Botanical Garden which I’d read so much about when it…
Build Your Own Butterfly Garden
Bring The Butterflies Home With These Shrubs Butterflies need two types of plants: as adults, they need Nectar Plants: that is, plants with flowers. Below are some good nectar plants. Find the key to the photos on the link. They…
Hear Native-Plant Expert Rick Darke at Unity Gardens
What: “Balancing Natives and Exotics in the Garden” by internationally acclaimed native-plant expert/author Rick Darke When: Saturday, March 2 (2013). Registration and refreshments at 10 am, presentation at 11 am. Where: The Key School, 534 Hillsmere Drive, Annapolis, Free parking. …
Designing with Native Plants
Northern Virginia landscape architect Thomas Rainer (whose blog Grounded Design I’m a big fan of) recently spoke to a rapt audience at the National Arboretum’s Native Plant Symposium, addressing the big question – how to create a native-plant garden that…
5 Myths about Native Plants
This is part 2 of my summary of landscape architect Thomas Rainer’s talk about native plants at the Lahr Native Plant Symposium. Don’t miss Part 1 – Designing with Native Plants. Thomas’s myths about native plants 1. That native plants…
How I invite birds into my garden
Over the years I have been adding more native plants to provide better food sources for birds and I have gotten rid of most of my lawn and replaced it with ornamental perennials, trees and shrubs. If I am spending…
Miri’s 12 Favorite Shrubs (11 are Natives!)
Have enough Azaleas? Roses? Bored with yews? I always yearn for the different when it comes to my garden, and these shrubs are some of my favorites. Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius) I love this shrub! It’s native (they pop up from…