Darcy’s Mexican sage Story and Photos by Alan Pulley Salvias have always been one of my favorite garden plants. With all the different types and countless varieties, there is a salvia for every gardener. I came across a new salvia a couple of years ago that quickly become one of my favorites – Darcy’s Mexican …
Bottlebrush buckeye Story by Russell Studebaker Bottlebrush buckeye was first collected by American naturalist and nurseryman William Bartram in the 1770s. Although not common in American gardens, the bottlebrush buckeye was an instant success when introduced to Europe by John Fraser in 1785. Native to the Southeast – South Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, and north Florida …
‘Prairie Sun’ gloriosa daisy Story and Photos by Norman Winter @NormanWinterTheGardenGuy on Facebook ‘Prairie Sun’, one of the most striking gloriosa daisies ever, was chosen as an All-America Selections Award Winner years ago. This followed on the heels of ‘Indian Summer’, another outstanding selection. Thanks to progressive greenhouse growers and a new generation of landscape …
Story and Photos by Clara A. Curtis I’ve written about and gardened with this little-known ground cover for many years, yet I believe Epimedium need a Pied Piper to call attention to their variety and flexibility in garden designs. The genus is not widely known. According to Tony Avent, a well known plant evangelist and …
Story and Photos by Hubert P. Conlon whatgrowsthere.com Brighten up dark areas in your woodland garden with Japanese forest grass, sometimes called hakone grass. This warm-season ornamental grass performs well in most areas of Tennessee; it may struggle a bit in the warmer regions. Start by planting in amended, compost-rich soil in full to partial …
The scent of gardenia is unmistakable Story by Denise Pugh The fragrance travels on the wind and comes around the corner quite unexpectedly. The month of June is ushered in by the most intoxicating fragrance. The smell is subtle in the breeze, but as one walks closer to the shrub – a gardenia (G. jasminoides) of …
Bat-faced cuphea Story and Photos by Alan Pulley Referred to as “bat-faced” because of its interesting little bat-faced deep purple and bright red blooms, Cuphea llavea has become a favorite summer annual for many gardeners, including myself. Native to Central America and Mexico, bat-face cuphea thrives in full sun and heat. Blooms emerge in late spring and …
Story by Hugh Conlon Oyama magnolia, indigenous to eastern Asia, is a deciduous 10-15 feet tall tree or shrub ideally suited for a small garden. Nodding, goblet-shaped, fragrant flowers bloom two to three weeks after the leaves emerge in April, thereby escaping injury from spring frosts. In mid to late May, egg-shaped flower buds unfold …
Story by Kenny Coogan kennycoogan.com Hyssop can be grown in containers, along perennial borders, or trimmed to form a low hedge in sunny gardens or along walkways. Author Henry Beston of Herbs and the Earth (1935) says, “The garden has no more quietly dependable and satisfactory border plant.” Hyssop’s showy purplish blue, pink, or white flowers …
‘Strawberry Blonde’ French marigold Story by Clara A. Curtis Now why would I choose to feature such a humdrum, pedestrian, and easy to grow garden annual? Color and ease were my inspirations. The pastel peachy pink with yellow and gold undertone petals of ‘Strawberry Blonde’ French marigold change color over the season: pinky yellow tones …
