With fall comes an initial blaze of color as the trees turn, followed by a whole lot of brown and gray. Luckily we have a gorgeous plant for fall color: Winterberry holly, or Ilex … [Read more...]
Plant Profile: Mountain Fire Pieris
If you're looking for a funky little accent plant, Pieris japonica is a great choice, and the variety 'Mountain Fire' seems to do pretty well in northern Virginia. What's also … [Read more...]
Plant Profile” Justin Brouwer Boxwood
This is a boxwood I specify a fair bit. Why? Scale. Justin Brouwer stays tight and compact. The ones in the profile picture were taken at the home of the grower's relative. They … [Read more...]
Plant Profile: Chinese Fringe Tree
This is actually a fairly under-utilized plant, which is a darn shame. I love the Chinese Fringe Tree (chionanthus virginicus), partly because it's just so unusual that its blooms … [Read more...]
Plant Profile: Otto Luyken Laurel
Everyone and their brother does a favorite plant, plant of the week, etc. I decided to change it up a little and present the plants a little differently. I used to love the … [Read more...]
Planting Shrubs and Perennials for Cut Flowers
While I was driving around today, I kept hearing a commercial for one of the big box home improvement stores, advertising a special on Knockout (R) roses. In the ad, they talk … [Read more...]
Root-bound Plants
Behold, a happy little one-gallon Stella D'oro daylily (please ignore the mess behind it- it's a work truck). I picked up this one and 29 of its friends, for a great price from a … [Read more...]
All-Too-Common Gardening Mistakes
Landscaping, gardening, whatever you want to call it- it's pretty forgiving. I'm of the school of thought that you can't actually have flowers that clash with one another, and if … [Read more...]
Plants for Small Spaces- Part 4
More plants for small spaces! This one here is Harbor Dwarf Heavenly Bamboo, or more accurately Nandina domestica 'Harbor Dwarf'. It's a compact, tidy little evergreen that, at … [Read more...]
Cryptomeria Japonica ‘Yoshino’
There's not a lot going on in the garden today, so I figured I'd snap a picture of my cryptomeria, aka Japaenese Cedar. It's a fantastic tree: quick-growing, sturdy, and tolerant … [Read more...]