Some of the best things about spring and summer are the abundance of beautiful weather, the ability to grow things, ample opportunities for outdoor barbecues, parties, and other forms of open-air entertainment, and the ability to enjoy nature is all of its glory. Continue reading
Maidenhair vine (Muehlenbeckia complexa) is a deciduous climbing vine native to New Zealand. It is most notably known for its versatility as a prolific ground cover and screening plant due its rampart but showy growing habits. Hardy in Zones 7-11, it can also be grown in a variety of locations, including salty and windy coastal areas. Continue reading
Want a tree for your garden that is easy to grow, resilient and beautifully sculptural? Look no further than Snow Gum Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus pauciflora), a hardy strain originating from several regions in Australia — not to be confused with Eucalytus globulus, an invasive species spreading throughout California and other states. With its twisted branches and striking white flowers, it makes for a stunning addition to any architectural landscape.
It has been a dream of mine for many years now as a garden designer to be commissioned to create a large scale sensory garden for a facility such as a hospital, mall, school, senior citizen centers or treatment center. Hopefully, that dream will become a reality in the near future, but in the interim, I would like to share a few important features for creating a simple sensory garden: sight, hearing, smell, touch and taste.
Photo courtesy of Creative Commons.
Sunn Hemp (Crotalaria juncea) is a poplar nitrogen-boosting member of the legume family. Although notably grown in the more tropical regions of Asia, it actually originates from India. It is perfect for the home gardener or an urban farm because of it’s soil-improvement qualities (if adequate growing space is available). Wildlife areas and livestock farms also benefit from its status as as forage or fodder (if consumed in the early stages of growth; it becomes fibrous as it matures).
Fast becoming a poplar addition to many perennial gardens, the Hens and Chicks Poppy (Papaver Somniferum) is a beautiful, albeit unusual, plant. In the spring, it features a single flower featuring stunning petals ranging in color from pink to dark red to purple with golden highlights in the center.
Flowering Plants:
Azalea – Rhododendron
Daffodil – Narcissus
Day Lily – Hemerocallis
Gladiolus – Gladiolus
Snapdragon – Antirrhinum
Small Shrubs/Bushes:
Barberry Bush – Berberis vulgaris
Big Leaf Hydrangea – Hydrangea grandiflora
Coral Bells – Heuchera
Daphne – Daphne
Hosta (Plantain Lily) – Hosta
Small Trees and Large Shrubs:
Cotoneaster – Cotoneaster dammeri
Crabapple Tree – Malus
Dogwood – Cornus florida
Hawthorn – Crataegus
Rose Of Sharon – Hibiscus syriacus
Large Trees:
Cedar – Cedrus
Crape myrtle – Lagerstroemia
Juniper – Juniperus
Magnolia – Magnolia grandiflora
Poplar – Populus
Lawn Grasses:
Buffalograss – Bouteloua dactyloides
Hybrid Bermuda – Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. x Cynodon transvaalensis Burtt Davy
St Augustine – Stenotaphrum secundatum
As gardening continues to grow in popularity, more small-space gardeners are finding alternatives to full-size vegetables. Thankfully, there are many dwarf hybrid varieties that make it easy to grow veggies of virtually any kind in small spaces.
Ferns (Pteridophytes) have long been a favored plant worldwide, and are included in both indoor and outdoor gardens. They are natural to woodland forests around the globe. Continue reading
Achiote (Bixa orellana), A.K.A. the Lipstick Tree, is a small deciduous tree native to Mexico, Central and South America. Achiote can grow up to 20 to 30 feet tall if grown as a tree. However, if pruned correctly, it can retain it’s shrubbery height of 12 feet. Throughout the growing season, Achiote produces attractive, heart-shaped leaves and an abundance of light pink flowers. It produces inedible green fruit that, when it matures, turns a brownish-rust in color and is covered with soft, spiky hairs. Continue reading
Butterfly Bush (Buddleia davidii) – Originating from China, Butterfly Bush is a delicious, perennial shrub known for it’s long plumes. The plumes feature a cascade of tiny, nectar rich flowers that attracts and provides food only, to adult butterflies, bees, hummingbirds and and other beneficial insects. The flowers colors can range from shades of blues, violet and purple but are generally white, pink and red. Continue reading
The Trumpet Vine (Campsis radicans) is a fast growing, tenacious climbing vine native to the southeast region of the US. This hardy perennial is also known as trumpet creeper and produces large, tubular and stunningly beautiful flowers with colors ranging from orange to scarlet. The plant’s vines are deciduous, enterprising and compact and rootlets cling almost any surface. Continue reading
Agapanthus (African Lily) is a summer flowering perennial (grown from bulbous root stocks) and is native to South Africa. Agapanthus features spectacular blue, white, pink and purple flowers on top of deciduous and tender evergreen leaves which would be a stunning addition to any Mediterranean or exotic landscape. Continue reading
As a garden enthusiast, I love growing all types of plants, but the plants that give me the most joy are herbs. It is astounding how many varieties there are and the many qualities they have and benefits they provide: i.e. culinary, medicinal and ornamental. For that reason, I think herbs should be included in every garden. Continue reading
Spring has finally arrived and the long awaited anticipation of heading outdoors to start gardening has come to an end. All gardeners, both old and young, are currently jump-starting what they hope to be a bountiful, fun and educational garden experience in the seasons to come. Continue reading
Greetings everyone…Spring has finally arrived and I couldn’t be happier. I still have a long wait before I can actually harden off my plants, and I am eagerly awaiting that day! Continue reading
The National Gardening Survey reveals that three-quarters of Americans garden in one form or another. But only 36 percent of people with disabilities engage in any leisure physical activity, including gardening and walking outdoors, according to a report by the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Photo By: Schnobby – https://commons.wikimedia.org
As a garden designer I find that creating a main and unusual focal plant in any garden enhances it charm and invites a welcoming interest. In particular, a shrub such as Corkscrew Hazel would be spectacular if included in a whimsical or fairy garden due to it’s gnarled branches.
With Thanksgiving behind us and the holiday season officially upon us, here are ten inspired gift ideas for the gardener in your life. Continue reading
(Photo by Pixabay.com)
For gardeners like me who live in a cold climate, the thought of the upcoming winter season can feel you with apprehension or dread. Winters here in New York state are brutal and long. The snow-covered landscape is barren and devoid of color. However, with prudent planing, your garden can provide an abundance visual appeal in winter for both you and wildlife. Continue reading
During this year’s growing season, I have been actively drying and saving various flowers and foliage to create garden crafts for the holidays. One craft in particular that I truly love is making garden potpourri. Continue reading
In my home garden, I recently finished sowing seeds and transplanting seedlings for the Fall growing season. I truly enjoy the freshness and quality of Fall’s seasonable vegetables and fruit. I am looking forward to the abundance of nutritious stocks I will be making at summer’s end, which will bring delicious flavors to warming soups and stews this winter. Continue reading
Hello my gardening companions. As you know, gardening and design are my true passions; my purpose. So, I am super-excited to announce the launch of my new garden design site, aptly named Anna’s Garden Design. This is a dream come true for me after years of study, real-world experiences and many personal sacrifices.
Basically, I provide an online garden design service based on my clients projections of their dream garden landscapes. I offer everything from basic design consultations to a full-scale site designs. Using information provide by clients, I create virtual designs and offer specific recommendations so that homeowners and business can create their own sanctuary entirely online, without the usual hassles or expense.
I would love for you to stop by my new site, Anna’s Garden Design , and let me know what you think. As always, I thank you for your time and support. Take care!
P.S. The…
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Adapted from my sister blog, Anna’s Gardening Antics and Musings…
Hello my friends. I hope you are well and enjoying this beautiful and bountiful summer season as much as I am. Fall is rapidly approaching, however, so I have began planting for the season with crops such as kale, lettuce, chard, spinach, collards, turnips and root vegetables.
Continue reading
As the end of summer approaches and the first frost looms not far behind, I usually began to get a bit anxious about harvesting and preserving my summer vegetables. In particular, homegrown, ripe tomatoes. I truly love tomatoes and have been known to hoard as many as possible for preserving to enjoy a taste of summer during the brutal winter months. Continue reading
Summer has finally arrived and with it’s arrival the proliferation of the blood-sucking and possible disease-carrying garden foe: the mosquito. In my home garden, I typically place several types of plants to deter mosquitoes. Typically, I either plant them in masses or dry leaves such as sage or rosemary to burn during outdoor gatherings. I also crush fresh leaves from my citronella grass, lemon thyme and lemon balm plants in my hands to release the oils and rub them on my skin instead of using chemical mosquito repellents (if you have skin allergies or sensitivity, I would not recommend this method). Continue reading
(Revised from my sister blog: Anna’s Gardening Antics and Musings)
Greetings fellow gardeners! We are experiencing great weather in my area, so I am writing this post on my laptop, in a shady part of my garden. It is so beautiful outside. Nature is a beauty to behold and a true testament of God’s presence. Continue reading
Re-adapted from my sister blog: Anna’s Gardening Antics and Musings
Greetings my fellow gardeners. Thirteen years ago I purchased a beautiful old home with a tiny yard full of miscellaneous shrubs and unusual mystery plants. I had lovely thoughts of creating a private haven of flowering vines, small fruits trees and edibles, similar to my late grandmother’s garden. I had very little knowledge at that time about gardening, so I read hundreds of books, watched gardening videos and took various classes for over a year. Continue reading
Re-adapted from my sister blog: Anna’s Gardening Antics & Musings…..
Recently, I had the honor of sampling a delicious jelly made from Queen Anne’s Lace (Daucus carota) flowers. It was absolutely wonderful: sweet with a mild, flowery taste. Continue reading
Photo via: Flickr
Melilot (Melilotus officinalis), also known as Yellow Sweet Clover, is a non-native plant originating from Eurasia and brought to the US as fodder for animals and a cover crop to produce a bust of nitrogen to poor soil and fields. It is not considered a weed but can become invasive if not monitored properly as it can be found in all types of soil. Continue reading
Did you know, there are edible flowers in most home gardens? Many gardeners grow plants for visual appeal and for their fruit, but many flowers also offer the same taste as their hosts. Continue reading
A vase of cut lilies. Photo courtesy of Longfield Gardens, a leading U.S. supplier of flower bulbs.
On this day of observance and appreciation, Garden Variety would like to wish a very Happy Father’s Day to the men who represent the best of fatherhood, paternal bonding and positive influences in the lives of others.
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A lakeside farm and garden set in a valley at Kukui’ula, a luxury residential community and private club in Kaua’i, Hawaii, which is known as the “Garden Island.” Photo courtesy of Kukui’ula.
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