Gardening Tips

Ostrich ferns seek shady, wet soils

The beautiful Ostrich fern is a native fern that thrives on the Eastern Shore if it is planted in part- to-full-shade and medium-to-wet soils. If the soil is never allowed to dry out, the plants will spread and cover the ground by underground rhizomes which are a type...

Crape myrtles embrace summer heat

The heat of summer is what helps the beautiful crape myrtles bloom so well in lovely shades of pure white, pick, rose, red, lavender and purple. The also come in various sizes, from dwarf plants of 2-3 feet tall to shade providing 30 feet tall or higher. Two lovely...

Oak Leaf Hydrangea perfect for region

Oakleaf Hydrangeas are beautiful native shrubs that thrive in full sun to part shade and rich, slightly acidic, moist but well drained soils found in many Mid-Shore gardens. There are some varieties that can grow up to 10-12 feet tall to form wonderful summer privacy...

Threadleaf Bluestar a May icon

Amsonia hubrichtii or Threadleaf Bluestar is a wonderful native herbaceous plant that has graceful billowing branches covered with very fine soft foliage and in May it produces beautiful sky blue star-shaped flowers that grow in clusters at the tips of each branch....

Columbine short-lived, but worth it

Aquilegia Canadensis, otherwise known as Columbine, is a wonderful native herbaceous perennial that thrives on the Eastern Shore when planted in moist but well drained soils and sunny mornings with afternoon shade. A plant only has to live for three years to be listed...

Oregon Grape Holly a welcome guest

March is the beginning of spring when the sun crosses the equator and the earth begins to tilt toward the sun. The days get warmer and the earliest bulbs begin to bloom. Some plants just can’t wait that long, like our native Oregon Grape Holly, Mahonia aquifolium....

Houseplants never go out of style

The easiest houseplants to grow indoors are the old-fashioned, pass-along plants that your parents or grandparents might have grown. These plants can grow for many years with just a little basic care. They need the right amount of light and they need the right amount...

AAS announces its 2021 winners

The All American Selections are seeds and vegetative propagated plants that have been grown nationwide, and the ones that thrived throughout the nation are considered national winners of that specific year, while the ones that have thrived in certain regions such as...