Indian Corn
Indian or flint corn is one of many types of maize or corn with colored kernels, either of a single or multiple colors. To learn more about these types of corn that have attractively-colored kernels, read this article…
Articles
Yellow Wax Bells, Kirengeshoma palmata
Mums, aster and goldenrod are the main players in the autumn garden, with few options for shade perennials that bloom late in the year. An unusual, late-blooming plant for the shade garden with striking foliage is yellow wax bells. Find out more about this plant that comes into its own as everything around it is starting to decline in this article…
Ruby grass, Melinus nerviglumis
Late in the season grasses become an important element in many landscapes as they begin to bloom. Ruby grass is a tender perennial grass grown as an annual in temperate areas with attractive blue green foliage and fluffy pink flower heads. To learn more about this interesting African grass, read this article…
Moss Rose, Portulaca grandiflora
In the heat of summer many flowering plants struggle, but Portulaca grandiflora loves those conditions. This semi-succulent annual native to South America has showy flowers that bloom all summer long. To learn more about this relative of the weedy purslane and its many cultivars and hybrids, read this article…
Flowering Tobacco, Nicotiana sylvestris
Looking to add fragrance to the garden? Flowering tobacco offers dramatic foliage and sweet-scented flowers in late summer. This annual plant with clusters of tubular white flowers atop huge, chartreuse to green leaves is easy to grow and combines well with many other annuals. To learn more about Nicotiana sylvestris, read this article…
Gomphrena ‘Fireworks’
Looking for a different annual to add some zing to your garden? ‘Fireworks’ gomphrena is a tough, low-maintenance plant with long-lasting, intense hot iridescent pink blossoms with tiny yellow flowers that together resemble exploding fireworks. To learn more about this relatively new cultivar that works well in masses or in containers, read this article…
Squash Vine Borer, Melittia cucurbitae
The nemesis of almost everyone who tries to grow squash in the Midwest, squash vine borer is a difficult problem to control. The larvae of this day-flying moth tunnel in the stems of zucchini, winter squash and pumpkin, causing the plants to wilt and frequently die. To learn more about this native insect pest, read this article…
Caladiums
In the middle of summer some plants start to look stressed, but not caladiums – they thrive on heat and humidity. These tropical perennials have been cultivated as ornamentals for centuries, grown for their dramatic, brightly colored foliage. To learn more about these shade-loving “summer bulbs” read this article…
Gaura, Gaura lindheimeri
If you’re looking for an airy flowering plant with a long bloom period, gaura is a great choice as it starts flowering on long, wispy spikes in early summer and continues through a hard frost – making it useful as an annual where not hardy. There are also many compact cultivars. Learn more about this native North American perennial in this article…
Sage, Salvia officinalis
Sage may be best known as a flavoring but there’s much more to this aromatic plant, including attractive foliage and interesting flowers. Learn more about this versatile plant in this article…
Yellow Goatsbeard, Tragopogon spp.
Have you noticed yellow flowers blooming individually on tall, scraggly stems or fluffy seed heads like extra-large dandelions along the roadside? There are two species of Tragopogon, introduced weeds that both have the common name yellow goatsbeard and are both common in disturbed areas. To learn more about these plants read this article…
Ground Beetles (Carabidae)
There are all kinds of beetles found in gardens. One common type are the ground beetles, which as the name suggests, are typically found under leaves or debris, in cracks in the soil, or running along the ground. Most of these are predators, consuming all sorts of other insects including pests. Learn more about these beneficial insects in this article…
