Agastache ‘Blue fortune’ thrives in sun
July is full of sun, heat and humidity — but the gardens can still thrive, and blue flowered plants can “cool off” the garden. Agastache “Blue fortune” blooms from July to September, filling the garden with tall stems that are filled with tiny soft blue tube-shaped...
‘Husker Red’ appreciates full sun
Penstemon digitalis or “Husker Red” is a native perennial that loves to live in full sun with medium moist but well drained soils. In the early spring, the shiny dark red leaves emerge from the soil and they continue to grow in a mounding clump until reaching 1-2 feet...
Dogwoods yearn for afternoon shade
Cornus florida is a wonderful deciduous native dogwood that loves to live with morning sun and afternoon shade. These beautiful small trees live under the shade of larger trees, growing 15-30 feet tall and 15-25 feet wide. In a landscape without trees, the flowering...
Long live the ‘King of Hearts’
April brings spring flowers long before May warms things up, so the spring flowers are often more cold-hardy. The tiny but beautiful hybrid, Dicentra “King of Hearts” features heart shaped rose red flowers and powdery blue green fern like foliage. Each bright flower...
Moth orchid leaves a tell-tale indicator
Phalaenopsis, or the moth orchid, is one of the easiest of orchids to grow. They love to live in houses for the same reason we love to live in our homes, where there are sunny rooms and the inside temperature is between 70 to 82 degrees F. They love to live in the...
2022 All-America Selections announced
The All-America Selection of plants is the only national non-profit plant trial organization in North America. Their mission is “to promote new garden varieties with superior garden performance judged in impartial trials in North America.” They judge both flowering...
What to do with post-holiday poinsettias?
Poinsettia plants are native to Mexico where they grow wild and tall and are often planted as colorful perennial hedges. Here on the Eastern Shore, the poinsettia is most often purchased as a winter holiday plant for its colorful bracts that blaze bright red, clear...
Cut flowers hold spirit of warmer weather
December can be a chilly month outdoors but it is easy to bring the warmth of a summer’s day inside by picking up some cut flowers and placing them with some greens to create an attractive arrangement. Most cut flowers arrive at the local florist and grocery stores in...
Decorative grasses brighten Shore
There are many lovely decorative grasses available to brighten up the Eastern Shore landscapes but with the rise of many invasive grasses, it is a better idea to look for and plant only native grasses. One of the most beautiful native grasses is the Gulf Muhly Grass...
Trees that sound off with distinctive barks
October is a great month for planting trees that have a robust root system. The weather has cool temperatures with some rain making it a wonderful month for newly planted tree roots to get established into their new soil home. Choosing a tree should not be a spur of...
