One foxy fern
Two years ago, on a whim, I bought a fern. The unique look caught my attention and has quickly become one of my favorites. The foxtail fern is a fun plant. The bushy stems shot straight up, and it’s hard to resist touching the full yet airy leaves that resemble the fullness of an animal’s […]
Night blooming cereus puts on a short, but sizzling show
If this were showbiz, the marquee would read, “Appearing for one night only.” You would call your friends, make plans, wait in line, and take pictures, right? Well, that is exactly what needs to happen when the night-blooming cereus takes the stage. These tropical plants produce white or very pale-colored flowers – once a year. […]
When together is better in the garden
A little luck and a whole lot of hard work have produced award-winning results in this front garden. Knowing the traits and needs of individual plants is important – very important – but the knack or skill of taking that knowledge and combining plants to create beauty is what good design is all about. One […]
Leaves of three, let them be
Whoever said good things come in threes never met poison ivy. Those shiny leaflets grouped in threes along a stem are anything but good. To be honest, the plant’s evil powers don’t come from the leaf but from the oil and urushiol they produce. Learning to identify poison ivy is important. Changing its identity is […]
A Wooded Storybook Garden
Charming. Storybook. Cottage.All words that describe a garden I had the pleasure of visiting last week. From the very moment I approached the property, I knew it was special.Pulling into the drive, I smiled at the shaker style cottage with teal accents. I was quickly greeted by the owners, who were as welcoming as their […]
Mean girls and bullies in the garden
Do you remember the movie “Mean Girls”? The characters were popular and pretty but not so nice. Let’s be honest – we all know a few mean girls. It happens in high school, in adulthood, and in the garden.Yes, plants can be bullies too.Of course, there are aggressive and invasive vines and shrubs that will […]
Drought tolerant plants
It may be raining as I type, but I know summer’s hot, dry days are coming. That can mean watering the garden every night or planning ahead and making the garden drought tolerant. Drought tolerant or water-wise planting does not have to be all cactus and tumbleweed. Smart choices can be made to create a […]
Red, white, and bloom – create a 4th of July planter
I want to create an impromptu planter for the Fourth of July. Oh, I know, I should have done this weeks ago, but I didn’t. So, it’s red geraniums to the rescue. Most everyone knows I love geraniums, and I plant them every year, but recently I have been on a pink kick, so I […]
Feed me, Seymour
I was lucky enough to nab a ticket to Charleston Light Opera Guild’s sold-out performance of “Little Shop of Horrors”- hope you were too – it was great. After seeing the show, you know what’s on my mind? Fertilizer. Feeding plants doesn’t have to be deadly. There are several ways to ensure the health of […]
100-years of grape leaves
Being of Lebanese descent but born in the United States, this trip was for her husband. They visited his family, ate delicious food, and brought home the start of a plant that is still growing today. In 1947 Edna, her husband, and her young son traveled to a New York harbor and began their sea […]
