Redbud trees could be considered the poster child trees of the showy April bloomers list. The native Eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis) and the Chinese redbud (Cercis chinensis) are two of the showiest and most reliable bloomers of spring, flowering faithfully in April each year. The flower colors range from all shades of pink, purple and lavender, to reddish or white, depending on the cultivar ...   >> read article

The “grow your own food” movement is still going strong in Indiana. Community gardens are the hot topic and finding a way to make the gardens attractive as well as practical helps make working in the garden fun for everyone. Although there are many plants that fit the “attractive and edible” category, one of the best is ‘Redbor’ kale ...   >> read article

The royal fern is a solution plant for gardens with wet soil. Royal ferns are named so because they can grow to be rather large, up to 5 feet tall and 5 feet across. They make quite an impact in the garden. Sterile fronds emerge in spring yellowish green and tinged with terra-cotta. Mature fronds are bright green. Being deciduous, pleasing yellow and brown shades appear in fall. They are quite striking when backlit by the sun ...   >> read article

This great little ground cover is ideal for shady, low-traffic areas where you want something soft underfoot. It’s perfect for woodland pathways, rock gardens and especially as a textural contrast between flagstones or in tiny crevices. The foliage of Leptinella squalida is very delicate and is available in several forms, from a soft green with slight hints of bronze-black to the very dramatic ‘Platt’s Black’ with strong bronze-black tones ...   >> read article

Creating that tropical look has been hot for the last few years now, but for gardeners who don't have a lot of room, space can be a real premium. Those large banana plants or elephant ears can look completely out of place in a smaller garden, making everything else around it look tiny and out of proportion. Fortunately, the master breeder of taro, Dr. John Cho in Hawaii, has bred a superb cultivar called 'Kona Coffee' ...   >> read article