It’s Monday and you know what that means! We’re getting to that point in the season where garden centers and nurseries are starting to build up their woody plant stock, and many of you are trying to decide which shrubs to buy. I’ll get right to the point: Do Not Buy a Burning Bush! While […]
Category: Meet a Plant
Meet a Plant: Pulmonaria
It’s Monday! Let’s meet a plant, shall we?? This week’s plant was inspired by a visit to my partner’s mother’s garden. (For those of you that know Ilze, you know that she has a lovely yard full of botanical treasures!) Her Pulmonaria is already blooming profusely, so that’s the plant we’re meeting today. Pulmonaria (also […]
Meet a Plant: Clethra
It’s Meet the Plants Monday! This week I had a number of different ideas for the plant you’d meet, but a particular plant kept coming up in conversation so much that I had to assume the universe was letting me know that was the one to talk about. So, I’d like to introduce you to […]
Meet a Plant: Canadian Columbine
Welcome back to Meet the Plants Monday! This week’s plant is one of my favorites for late spring to early summer interest: meet Aquilegia canadensis, whose common name is Canadian Columbine. This is a short-lived perennial that’s happy to self-seed and is happiest in an area where you’ll let it pick and choose where it […]
Meet a Plant: Bergenia
It’s Meet the Plants Monday! For this week’s plant, I’ve picked an early-blooming perennial: meet Bergenia cordifolia, also known as Heartleaf Bergenia or Pig-squeak. (The second name supposedly comes from the sound made from rubbing the leaves together – try it and let me know what you think!) It’s native to Siberia and can grow […]
Meet a Plant: Eastern Hemlock
We’re back again for Meet the Plants Monday! For this week’s plant, we’re going big. Like, tree-sized. Meet Tsuga canadensis, otherwise known as the Eastern or Canadian Hemlock! This is a large evergreen conifer that prefers shaded cool areas with moist soil – it’s actually the most shade-tolerant tree in North America – and it’s […]
Meet a Plant: Red Twig Dogwood
It’s Meet the Plants Monday again!! This week’s plant is a shrub that you’ve likely seen, especially in winter – Cornus sericea, AKA Red Twig or Red Osier Dogwood. Known best for its bright red canes that are great for winter interest, this Dogwood also has small white flowers in spring, interesting (non-edible) whitish-blue berries […]
Meet a Plant: Winter Wolfsbane
?Welcome to Meet the Plants Monday, a weekly feature to learn a little more about the plants in our yards and natural spaces.? Meet our first plant of the year – Eranthis cilicica! The common name is Winter Aconite or Winter Wolfsbane. This is a very early spring bloomer with small bright yellow flowers that […]