Meet the New Foliage Plant on the Block
Besides being beautiful, alternantheras are easy to grow. Average garden soil of moderate fertility produces excellent results. Though they don't tolerate extreme drought very well, alternantheras require no more water than do most hardy ... [... more]
Fine Gardening |
Up-and-Coming Epimediums
Epimediums are hardly commonplace plants in the United States, but they should be. As more and more new species and varieties are being discovered in Asia, a few of us nurserymen are doing what we can to make this genus more of a presence in ... [... more]
Fine Gardening |
Cool Blue Hostas
Whether it's the blue sky or the blue sea on a crystal-clear day, the raw emotion of blues music, the comfort of blue jeans, or the naughtiness of blue movies, people are fascinated by blue. Interestingly enough, the plant kingdom was ... [... more]
Fine Gardening |
Sage Advice
Salvias can be found growing in a multitude of habitats, from sea level to tropical cloud forests to subalpine mountain slopes, which is why they're so adaptable to almost any garden condition except deep shade and excessive moisture. Many ... [... more]
Fine Gardening |
Antique Beauties
Unusual and gorgeous, antique dahlias, gladioli, and cannas deserve a place in every modern garden. These time-tested antique bulbs are tough and easy to grow. And like Grandma's quilt, Victorian houses, and 1950s Chevrolets, they connect us with ... [... more]
Fine Gardening |
Hostas with a Golden Touch
One of the reasons hostas are so popular is that they are easy to grow. They generally thrive in USDA Hardiness Zones 3 to 8 and prefer fast-draining soils. While blue and green varieties can tolerate full to partial shade, yellow hostas require ... [... more]
Fine Gardening |
Learn to Grow Bold, Beautiful Baptisia
Bumblebees know a good thing when they see it. So do gardeners. And both buzz with approval when the wild indigo ( Those impressive spikes of spring-blooming, eye-catching flowers- which, depending on the species are white, blue, yellow, or ... [... more]
Fine Gardening |
Give a summer patio an appealing view
While our pool was being installed, I turned my attention to the landscape. I pictured a long perennial border running along one side of the pool, which would camouflage an obtrusive fence and offer a delightful view that we could enjoy as we ... [... more]
Fine Gardening |
Designing with Hostas
When I began growing hostas, I used the plant's size to determine where I placed it in my border. I didn't think about how the hostas interacted with each other or with the annuals and perennials around them. One day, I replaced a green-and-white ... [... more]
Fine Gardening |
Scented Pelargoniums Charm the Senses
Subtlety has its place, but plants that have a knockout scent will always have a home in our garden. Though our greenhouses are cramped and crowded, we simply can't resist adding more scented pelargoniums. We are not alone in our obsession with ... [... more]
Fine Gardening |
Annuals Pep Up Perennial Borders
I think of myself as a purist, so when I started my perennial border some years ago, I wanted nothing but perennials. After all, I reasoned, a perennial border should contain only perennials, shouldn't it? But, as time went by, I added several ... [... more]
Fine Gardening |
The Best Plants for Sunny Borders
In my day, farmers valued workhorses for their strong constitutions, good manners, and steady dependability. As a gardener, I appreciate these same qualities in a handful of sun-loving perennials that earn their keep day in, day out, year after ... [... more]
Fine Gardening |
