Hydrangeas are Sugar-Coated Confections
What are white, fluffy and look as tantalizing as scoops of vanilla ice cream? They are probably the beautiful, pristine white blossoms of our native wild hydrangea.
The Woods In My Back Yard – Part 2
Well, most of the spring wildflowers are finished, but you can still find a few here and there. Especially if you wander around off the beaten path (or paved path, as it were) and momentarily wonder just where the heck you are and where that path went…. I came across a colony of Wild Ginger (Asarum canadense) that still had some flowers tucked underneath their leaves.
Plant a Little History with Pawpaws
One trait that lends Pawpaws to being so carefree is the fact that they have special chemicals in their leaves which make them unpalatable to deer and most insect pests. In fact, very few insects have evolved enough to be able to make use of this plant, except for one of our butterflies, the Zebra Swallowtail.
History of Encore Azaleas
People who adore spring-blooming azaleas can now enjoy an explosion of Encore® Azalea color season after season. Encore® Azaleas are the only patented brand of azaleas to bloom in spring, summer and fall. Each of the 24 Encore varieties begins…
Miris Pick Of The Week – Franz Fontaine European Hornbeam
Franz Fontaine European Hornbeams Great slender trees with relatively fast growth and narrow canopies, useful for summer screening or shading the house in close quarters. This tree grows to 35′ and gets about 20′ wide. During the summer season the…
Flowering Cherry Trees in Bloom
Flowering Cherry Trees have gorgeous spring flowers… they are one of the first trees to bloom and people come from all over the country to see the cherries in bloom in Washington. Plant one yourself for your own Cherry Blossom…
Getting the Most Out of a Fresh-Cut Christmas Tree
What are the keys to a long-lasting Christmas tree this season if you are planning on enjoying a cut tree instead of an artificial tree? Well, think of a Christmas tree as sort of a large cut flower. Different types…
Knock Out, Rugosa and ‘New Dawn’ Roses
Knock Outs Although they have been around for a couple of years, the Knock Out series of roses still knock my socks off. I am very impressed by their repeat blooming and great disease resistance. You can see wonderful specimens…
Smoke Tree – Cotinus coggygria
‘Grace’ & ‘Golden Spirit’ ‘Grace’- a real gem. Attractive new leaves emerge an intense wine-red and mature to dusky-reddish-blue. It’s bright orange-red fall color is unmatched in the plant world. Masses of extremely large, deep pink panicles cover this beauty…
Crape Myrtle – Variety and Versatility
There are many wonderful cultivars of crape myrtle. Of particular note are the National Arboretum hybrids, which were bred for winter hardiness and powdery mildew resistance.
Hydrangea Quick Fire
The first to bloom! QUICK FIRE blooms about a month before other Hydrangea paniculata (hardy hydrangea) varieties. Extend the hydrangea season in your garden with a planting of Hydrangea QUICK FIRE. The flowers turn pink very quickly, and will be…
Encore Azaleas
People who adore spring blooming azaleas can now enjoy an explosion of Encore Azalea® color season after season. Encore Azaleas® are the only patented brand of azaleas to bloom in spring,summer and fall.Each of the Encore varieties begins their performance…