Articles

Garlic, Allium sativum

Cultivated for thousands of years for both culinary and medicinal uses – and to repel vampires – garlic is a well-known herb. Learn more about the many types of garlic and how to grow it, harvest and use it…

Praying Mantids

The praying mantids are a group of insects with very characteristic front legs designed to capture and hold prey. The common name comes from the way the legs are held upright when hunting, but they don’t really have any religious affiliations. To learn more about these fascinating predators, read this article…

Mealycup sage, Salvia farinacea

Mealycup sage, grown as an annual, features shrubby upright clumps producing tall, sturdy flower stems above the foliage, with dense whorls of dark blue, light blue, purple, or white flowers. Learn more about these tough, heat-tolerant plants in this article.

Catnip, Nepeta cataria

Catnip is mint family member native to Eurasia contains a compound that is very attractive to most cats. The plant itself can be an attractive addition to the garden, especially when in bloom. Learn more about catnip in this article.

Astrantia, Astrantia major

With small, unusual “pincushion” flowers in subtle shades of red, pink and white, astrantia or great masterwort, is a relatively uncommon perennial in American gardens. Growing in sun or partial shade it’s best suited to places where the flowers can be appreciated up close. To learn more about this perennial plant, read this article…

Willowleaf bluestar, Amsonia tabernaemontana

With pale blue flowers in spring, a large mound of foliage that stays bright green throughout the summer until turning yellow in fall, willowleaf bluestar is a great low maintenance perennial addition to any sunny garden. Learn more about Amsonia tabernaemontana in this article

Common Columbine Pests: Columbine Leafminer and Columbine Sawfly

If you have columbines in your garden, you likely have seen squiggly white trails or blotches on the leaves or had the entire leaf devoured at one time. These are significant as cosmetic problems, but generally have little impact on the plant’s health. Learn more about the life cycle of the two insects that cause these problems and how to deal with them in this article…

Forsythia, Forsythia spp.

Forsythia is one of the first shrubs to flower in spring with showy yellow flowers. Many cultivars are available and flower hardiness can vary. Learn more about forsythia in this article.

Guinea Hen Flower, Fritillaria meleagris

Looking for an unusual spring flowering bulb? Guinea hen flower sports a variable, checkered pattern on the nodding, bell-shaped flowers that are only about 2 inches long. The dark colored flowers (shades of red, pink or purple) are best sited where they can be appreciated up close. Learn more about Fritillaria meleagris by reading this article…

Cutleaf Toothwort, Cardamine concatenata

Cutleaf toothwort is a small, charming spring woodland ephemeral with distinctive leaves and soft white flowers. Easy to grow, it’s a great addition to any woodland garden. Learn more about this native species in this article.

Skunk cabbage, Symplocarpus foetidus

Skunk cabbage is one of the first plants to bloom in the spring, often when there is still snow on the ground. The bizarre flowers are followed by huge rosettes of broad leaves that disappear by summer. Read this article to learn more about this interesting native plant.

Kahili Ginger, Hedychium gardnerianum

Kahili ginger is a showy subtropical plant with attractive foliage plant even when it doesn’t have its terminal spikes of striking yellow and red fragrant flowers. To learn more about Hedychium gardnerianum, read this article.