‘Florida Sunshine’ yellow anise tree Story by Clara A. Curtis There’s never a dull day in the garden as long as you have a ‘Florida Sunshine’ yellow anise tree. With its brightly colored chartreuse leaves and red stems, this southeastern native is sure to brighten a woodland garden or enliven shady to partly sunny corners. …
Growing your own hot peppers in the home garden Story by Darren Sheriff Those of you that know me may think I am a hot head! No, not THAT kind! I LOVE hot peppers, also known as chile peppers. And the Carolinas are a great place to grow some heat. Chile peppers, or hot peppers, …
Grow your own cherry tomatoes Story by Darren Sheriff Nothing beats the taste of a vine-ripened tomato picked right off the plant and eaten out of hand. The joy of a tomato sandwich with mayo and black pepper on a warm summer day is another one of those treats that just can’t be beat. Tomatoes …
Savor Surry County’s horticulture and history Story by Kristi Hendricks Winter was left in the rear view mirror … cold, drab and unfriendly. We were ready for sunshine, pollen, and a bit of the casual country life. We, my husband and I, finished our business in the capital earlier than expected that Friday and were …
15 common problems in your warm-season vegetable garden and how to fix them Story and Photos by Jeanne Grunert homegardenjoy.com You’ve diligently amended the soil and waited until the proper time to plant your vegetables. You’ve tended them lovingly, watered them daily, and shooed away crows, deer, and insects. But the peppers aren’t growing. There’s …
Growing summer squash in your Virginia veggie garden Story by Diane Beyer There are many varieties of summer squash, all with similar growth requirements and harvest times. Zucchini is probably the most well known summer squash, and the one that causes you to dive behind the couch when you see well-meaning neighbors at the door …
A profile of the ‘Voodoo Queen’ hibiscus Story and Photos by Alan Pulley Who doesn’t love hibiscus flowers? They come in so many sizes and colors and grow in most tropical areas of the world. I have grown a variety of tropical hibiscus in my time; however, last year I came across one that I …
Slow gardening in the Piedmont Story and Photo by Cynthia Wood I never thought about garden etiquette when I was growing up in the country. We had acres of land and there wasn’t another house in sight. We planted whatever we wanted and kept the garden as neat and tidy – or not—as we saw …
Options for adding interest and a welcoming entrance Story and Photos by J.D. Willoughby Bursts of color, unique statuary, and even trailing vines can liven up the most boring curb. We often focus on the garden beds around the house and maybe the sidewalk to the front door, but rarely create a welcoming feel close …
A special resource for native plant lovers Story by Cynthia Wood Nestled into the rolling hills of Nelson County, not far from Charlottesville, is Virginia’s newest botanical garden, the Quarry Gardens at Schuyler. Founded by Armand and Bernice Thieblot, the garden is an important resource for people interested in learning about native plants. Visit in …
