Category Archives: Garden Design

Golden Vicary Privet

Posted on July 3, 2016 by

Here’s a fun plant to use in a mixed border or as a pair of accents by an exterior door. In full sun, the leaves are lemon yellow; in semi-shade locations, or where lower branches are shaded, the leaves are … Continue reading →

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Dianthus Devon Cottage ‘Waterloo Sunset’

Posted on July 3, 2016 by

Deep magenta pink has always been my favorite color to make all other garden plants come alive. Its intensity makes pale blues and lavender look softer. Combined with yellow and orange, magenta turns the garden into a Monet painting. It … Continue reading →

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Invasive Species

Posted on July 13, 2015 by

Back in the 1980s, it was almost impossible to pick up a gardening book or horticultural publication that didn’t recommend planting species that are banned or restricted today as invasive plants. Some states have extensive lists of banned or controlled … Continue reading →

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Eye Candy for Gardeners

Posted on July 2, 2015 by

This photo seems to perfectly capture one reason gardeners have such a long-standing love affair with the rose. I can’t think of another flower as delicate and elegant when first opening as a rose. The Morden Snowbeauty rose shows just … Continue reading →

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Plant of the Month: Alchemilla mollis ‘Thriller’

Posted on July 2, 2015 by

Alchemilla mollis (Lady’s Mantle) is probably a well-known plant to many readers here. A perennial border classic, it is celebrated for its magnificent scalloped foliage and its delicate chartreuse-yellow flowers rising on wands above the main clump of leaves. It’s … Continue reading →

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Final Update on Clethra alnifolia ‘Vanilla Spice’

Posted on August 23, 2014 by

The Clethra ‘Vanilla Spice’ that began as a garden trial four years ago has matured into a lovely, medium-sized shrub. While not easily found at retailers, this is a highly desirable shrub well worth locating and planting. Location Requirements This … Continue reading →

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Sport or Sucker?

Posted on August 19, 2014 by

This bicolor rose in my neighbor’s garden has a shoot that is producing a single yellow rose. The majority of flowers on the plant are a combination of orange and yellow, so this particular shoot could simply be sporting back … Continue reading →

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