Now that the leaves have fallen, we notice any scrap of color outside our windows! Shrubby dogwoods offer stems of yellow, red or coral as a means of photosynthesizing during winter. By spring, these stems will magically turn dark again as the new leaf buds emerge. There are newer, more compact cultivars for smaller gardens that remain…
Looking around the garden, I notice that many native plants are vigorous despite the drought! Here are just a few: Solomon’s Seal – Polygonatum biflorum A staple of the shade garden, Solomon’s Seal blooms in May with dangling white bell-shaped flowers on an arched stem. In fall, leaves turn a lovely golden yellow. This plant…
I was thrilled to learn recently that the native rose mallow, Hibiscus moscheutos, is returning to the shores of the Charles River! This plant is reclaiming space once taken by the invasive purple loosestrife. Now that the release of a beetle that eats the loosestrife has been successful in our area, native plants like this can return…
What to do when your beautiful spring garden suddenly has a large empty space in August? Here are some perennial pairings that I’ve discovered over the years to hide declining foliage and gaps in the border. Lupinus perennis and Lobelia siphilitica Let the native lupine foliage “ripen” like bulb foliage in order to photosynthesize. The lupines will…
Sedum sarmentosum Sedum ‘Autumn Joy’ with Lambs Ears There are clumping sedums (‘Autumn Joy’ and Matrona’) and there are spreading sedums (‘John Creech’, ‘Fuldagut’ and ‘Lime Zinger.’) Great in any garden with full sun to part shade, sedums are extremely drought tolerant due to their fleshy, succulent leaves. In fact, a dropped sedum stem will…
You may enjoy registering for a new twist on a summer standby that goes online this month. The Northeast Organic Farming Association’s Summer Conference will be held July 20-August 9. NOFA is a group of consumers, farmers, and gardeners with an interest in sustainable living the organic way. Workshops have been the cornerstone of the…
Pinus mugo I had the chance to work with three overgrown mugo pines of varying size recently. Late in the month of May is the perfect moment for their renovation, as new growth is just beginning and can be easily edited by “candling” or pinching off the new growth. I also had to saw some…
This native of the coastal plain of the Northeast (Nova Scotia to Virginia) is resisitant to black knot in my experience! Blooming in mid May through June with a brilliant show of pinkish-white flowers, it is a small stature tree (4′-6′) or multi-stemmed shrub. Plant and enjoy in full sun. It is not fussy about…
Important note: Do not collect wild moss, as this degrades natural habitats. Instead, we encourage you to try the easy propagation methods below for two common spreading moss varieties. Dicranum scoparium, Rock Cap Moss, is readily visible in the woods, quite literally capping the tops and sides of rocks or logs and stumps. You might also…
Speaking of native plants, our Plant Pick this month is Dicentra eximia, fringed bleeding heart. This early spring bloomer will pop out of the ground shortly after the snow melts with soft green basal leaves. Flower stems will quickly follow. Preferring dry shade with a soil rich in organic matter, this plant is an easy naturalizer.…