Search

FEATURES Water conservation is top of mind for many gardeners, but perhaps none so more than those in California, where prolonged droughts have prompted tight regulations on landscape irrigation. Landscape and nursery professionals are also invited to observe and rate plants at Open House events, giving them a chance to learn about UCLPIT, new plants and irrigation in general. In other words, when cumulative ET shows that half the water held in the soil at the plant's roots has been lost, the plant is irrigated just enough to replace that 50 percent, and the cumulative ET is set back to 0. [Extracted from the article]

Nodding: The stem bends from the weight of the flower, making it angle downward - but not to the same degree as a pendant flower. Compound spike Spike Astrantia (Astrantia major "Alba") Umbel: A racemose inflorescence in which the pedicels arise from about the same point to form a flat or curved flower cluster. The corolla is the inner whorl of a flower consisting of separate or fused petals, and the calyx is the outer whorl of a flower consisting of separate or fused sepals (modified leaves). [Extracted from the article]

The article titled "GARDEN ALL-STARS!" in the Horticulture journal discusses various topics related to gardening. It highlights time-tested perennials that have been recognized by horticulture professionals in different regions, as well as hardworking native grasses that debunk common misconceptions about their growth and suitability for shade. The article also showcases new shrubs and perennials with drought tolerance and provides advice on dealing with drought and other climate concerns. Additionally, it offers suggestions for replacing underperforming plants in midsummer containers. Overall, the article provides a range of information and inspiration for gardeners. [Extracted from the article]

FEATURES Foliage burnished with gold, silver, bronze and copper can be a valuable asset in the garden. Strong midday or afternoon sun can scorch some gold-leaved plants, even those rated to full sun. Some silver foliage bears a waxy or filmy coating to reflect strong sun. [Extracted from the article]

The large, rounded flowerheads and straight stems of bigleaf hydrangea (H. macrophylla) cultivars are instantly recognizable, and the confusion over when to prune them and what makes the blossoms blue or pink has seemed to add intrigue, rather than deter interest. Meanwhile the reliable, fail-proof conical blooms of panicle hydrangea (H. paniculata) make it a go-to among summer-blooming shrubs, and cultivars in a wide range of sizes have added to its applicability. NOTED CULTIVARS For many, the antique cultivar "Annabelle" is synonymous with smooth hydrangea. FEATURES You needn't be a botanist nor even a studied gardener to know a hydrangea when you see it. [Extracted from the article]

FEATURES Among the myriad forms and habits taken by woody plants, perhaps the most versatile shape is the vase. Arching trees and shrubs contribute great beauty to this season, when their bared stems accentuate their shape. Vase-shaped shrubs pair well with groundcovers, as seen in this sweep of astilbe (Astilbe chinensis var. taquetii "Superba") dotted with several chokeberry shrubs (Aronia melanocarpa var. elata) at the Chicago Botanic Garden. [Extracted from the article]

A long bloom time and compact growth habit combine to make this hardy shrub a winner for foundation plantings and mixed beds. FEATURES ALL-AMERICA SELECTIONS A network of anonymous gardening professionals from various regions of the United States and Canada evaluate new, not-yet-sold cultivars in about 80 test gardens each growing season, judging them against comparable selections that are already on the market. Having already recommended so many garden-worthy native grasses, for 2022 the GreatPlants selection committee had to look beyond the usual cold-hardy perennial grasses and choose a tender plant, ruby grass. Flowering on Easy on the Eyes is heavy enough to obscure its foli-28 age, but behind the bloom the leaves remain clean and glossy throughout the growing season. [Extracted from the article]

FEATURES tender or tropical plants that grow from tubers, bulbs, rhizomes or corms - like dahlias, tuberous begonias and canna - bring color and flair to gardens and containers throughout the year's warmest months. Below right: Here's a caladium tuber with sprouts beginning to show, but lacking this clue the tuber can be planted on its side - the stems and roots will find their path. PHOTO (COLOR): Above: Alocasia is one of several plants known as elephant ears; it's distinguished by its large size coupled with an upright habit. [Extracted from the article]

COLUMNS PLANTS WITH LEAVES that turn shades of gold in the fall are treasures for the garden. GOLDEN SPIRIT SMOKEBUSH COTINUS COGGYGRIA "ANCOT" This smokebush cultivar boasts lovely lemon-lime foliage throughout the growing season, but its color intensifies in autumn, with leaves darkening to golden amber, deep red and purple. BOTTLEBRUSH BUCKEYE AESCULUS PARVIFLORA Bottlebrush buckeye is a large native shrub that produces large panicles of white flowers in midsummer. [Extracted from the article]

Zones 5-9. 9 "Ruby Gold" bleeding heart Dicentra spectabilis "Ruby Gold" Terra Nova Nurseries "Ruby Gold" is the first gold-leaved cultivar of showy bleeding heart that has flowers of true red. USDA Zones 4-9. 2 Fairytrail Bride cascade hydrangea Hydrangea x "USHYD0405" Proven Winners ColorChoice Flowering Shrubs New to the American market, this unique hydrangea won Plant of the Year at the UK's Chelsea Flower Show in 2018 (under the name Runaway Bride). Reblooming hydrangea Hydrangea x "SMNHSC" Proven Winners ColorChoice Flowering Shrubs The new addition to the Let's Dance series of hydrangeas is touted as its most reliable, quick growing and floriferous. Zones 7-9. 3 Elizabeth Ashley bigleaf hydrangea Hydrangea macrophylla "Hokomarore" Plants Nouveau Named in honor of a cherished, joyful young woman who tragically died in an accident with a drunk driver, Elizabeth Ashley hydrangea is a gift hydrangea that promises to bring immediate cheer to its recipient and for years once transplanted to the garden. [Extracted from the article]

FEATURES I've covered new plant introductions for Horticulture for more than 15 years, and in so doing there's one word that I think I've typed a million times: compact. PHOTO (COLOR): Eastern bluestar (Amsonia tabernaemontana) rises anew each spring to provide an upright, rounded, shrub-like filler amid other perennials (with a bonus of starry blue spring flowers). 1 SHRUBS CAN BREAK YOUR HEART > Readers may be wondering: Why not just plant shrubs where a largish plant is desired?. [Extracted from the article]

In the garden, perhaps its best to simply say miniature daffodils are obviously small, undeniably cute cultivars well suited to certain design niches. how to use them Remember that all the parts of a miniature daffodil are proportionately small - not just the flower. Like species tulips and crocus, mini daffs are bulbs that look in proportion to the low, tight habits and spectacular early bloom of many rock-garden and alpine plants. FEATURES Daffodils (Narcissus) have so many selling points: They're easy to grow and untroubled by rodents, beautiful to behold at winter's end and oftentimes fragrant, too. [Extracted from the article]

Perhaps we don't think about it much, but in reality many - or maybe even most - of the blooms in our gardens show some degree of variegation. FEATURES BLOOMS Picture a garden where all the flowers are solid in color. Bold- and quiet-patterned flowers alike help build a dynamic garden design. [Extracted from the article]

It is an ARTS Local Artist in region: Dfb Tequila Gold ("MEIpojona") Introduced by Star Roses and Plants, Tequila Gold is a dense landscape shrub rose that grows 5 to 6 feet high and 4 to 5 feet wide. It is an ARTS Local Artist in region: H Tequila Gold ("MEIpojona") Introduced by Star Roses and Plants, Tequila Gold is a dense landscape shrub rose that grows 5 to 6 feet high and 4 to 5 feet wide. To date, ARTS has designated 44 Local Artists, which have been judged outstanding performers in at least one KOppen climate region, and 12 Master Roses, which are cultivars that have been named Local Artists in at least four KOppen climate regions. [Extracted from the article]

FEATURES Each year since 1995, the Garden Club of America (GCA) has awarded one plant the Montine McDaniel Freeman Horticulture Award, thereby designating it as the GCA Plant of the Year. The Freeman Medal is given in honor of Montine McDaniel Freeman (1915-1998), who served as a director and vice-president of the GCA and as president of her local chapter, New Orleans Town Gardeners. The Garden Club of America cited the "almost spherical, deeply cup-shaped, strongly lemon- and rose-scented flowers" of this tree when awarding it the Freeman Medal in 1996. MORE WINNING PLANTS Find the full list of Freeman Medal winners, Honorable Mentions and Special Recognition plants at the Garden Club of America's web page: http://www.gcamerica.org/gcaawards-plant-of-the-year. [Extracted from the article]

This sophisticated blend of silver and pink employs an ornamental fescue (Festuca glauca "Elijah Blue"), ghostly sea kale (Crambe maritima) and pineapple lily (Eucomis comosa "Sparkling Burgundy"), whose flower spikes echo the cairn-like objets d'art. Here, oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) puts on its fall foliage color as its summer flowers fade, echoed by the lingering butterfly-like blossoms of white gaura, at The Oregon Garden (http://www.oregongarden.org), Silverton, Ore., October 9, 2013. The turning foliage of full moon maple (Acer shirasawanum "Aureum") catches the fall sun, its smolder enhanced by its smoky-needled neighbor, blue spruce (Picea pungens). [Extracted from the article]

FEATURES Gardens evolve, and so do their gardeners. NEW LOVE: Something not entirely new to me, but new to almost everyone, amateur or professional, who visits my garden, is Thujopsis dolobrata "Nana", the dwarf Hiba arborvitae. This plant is much happier in the more fertile soil of John's rural garden than in the rocky soil of my suburban parking strip, but the reverse could be said about very few plants. [Extracted from the article]

FEATURES Just 25 miles north of New York City stands Lyndhurst, an elaborate mansion overlooking the Hudson River. A VISIT TODAY Howard Zar and his team treasure Lyndhurst's trees and the landscape's original Romantic style just as much as the Pauldings, Merritts and Goulds did. At Lyndhurst, the horticulture team has opted to substitute a different tree entirely: the chinquapin oak (Quercus muehlenbergii). [Extracted from the article]

These tried-and-true trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals and edible plants are singled out by garden professionals in the hopes that they'll find their way into more landscapes, because of the benefits that they will bring. Each year, the program shines a light on one tree, shrub, perennial and annual that can succeed here with little input, making for successful and environmentally friendly gardens. 23Amarillo Gold green-eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta Amarillo Gold GOLD MEDAL AND NOVELTY Fleuroselect judges were impressed by the blossom size, early, endless bloom and uniformity of flower, habit and color of this rudbeckia cultivar. THEODORE KLEIN PLANT AWARDS Each year a panel of Kentucky green-industry professionals adds a handful of exceptional trees, shrubs and perennials to their list of excellent garden plants for the state's climate. [Extracted from the article]

FEATURES They're with us all year, but evergreen conifers call for some extra praise in winter, when their color, texture and form prove invaluable. However most garden conifers share a need for good soil drainage and sufficient air circulation. These plants won't quickly overtake and shade out their companions, and when paired with shorter-lived perennials, dwarf conifers can adapt through multiple iterations of an evolving garden design. Many conifers would look at home in a Dr. Seuss story, and weeping Norway spruce is a familiar representative of such. [Extracted from the article]

FEATURES ELEPHANT EARS (Colocasia and Alocasia) are tropical plants grown for their stunning, often enormous leaves, which can be lime green, variegated or nearly black. BLUE + LIME A lime-green coleus and blue-flowered bush violet (Browallia) skirt a navy-blue elephant ear (Colocasia "Black Magic"). Silvery English ivy, hosta and dark-leaved "Black Tafetta" begonia hide the stems of the alocasia and caladium. [Extracted from the article]

FEATURES Wind can be a problem in gardens because it can dry out the soil, break delicate plants and, if consistent, stunt growth or produce a deformed, leaning, lopsided shape. Often these tall-stemmed plants will also provide seeds for small birds like American goldfinches, which provide even further color and movement to the garden as they alight upon the swaying stems of black-eyed Susans, for instance. PHOTO (COLOR): Parry's penstemon (Penstemon parryi), a native of the American Southwest, produces tall spikes of pink flowers. INSET: Outwit the wind. [Extracted from the article]

Hybrid hibiscus entered the garden scene in the 1950s with Robert Darby's "Lord Baltimore", derived from several native species, including Hibiscus coccineus and H. moscheutos. Peonies can be a good match for hardy hibiscus, since their shrubby shape and large flowers will hide and distract from the gap the hibiscus has yet to fill. Salvia and veronica are other good spring-flowering companions to place in front of hardy hibiscus, since they can be sheared after bloom to open up the view of the hibiscus. [Extracted from the article]

Alternatively, you can choose a shrub that will ultimately grow quite large if you plan to transplant it into a permanent in-ground location within a few years, or if you'd like to try restricting its size through regular root pruning. Whatever shrub you pick, match it to a container that is two to three times the size of the shrub's nursery pot (see sidebar: "Words from the wise: Moving up"). Put the pot in its final position before adding the soil and shrub. [Extracted from the article]

Full sun will prompt the best foliage color, but this selection will look lovely and bloom in part sun, too. Mountain hydrangeas (H. serrata) take full or part sun and withstand cold temperatures better than the similar-looking bigleaf hydrangeas (H. macrophylla). Circling back to the Lo & Behold butterfly bushes and Tuff Stuff hydrangeas mentioned earlier, we can find two diminutive relations: Buddleia "Pink Micro Chip" and H. serrata Tiny Tuff Stuff . [Extracted from the article]

This book will be a favorite of Wave Hill visitors as well as those who have not made the journey, as its story is both fascinating and useful to those gardeners who enjoy experimenting with plants and design, too. This is a book for any gardener who finds the person behind a garden as fascinating as the plants within it. The real treat comes in the section named "The Jungles", where Kaplan and Camilleri introduce, through interviews and photographs, a dozen plant lovers and their unique, artfully displayed collections. [Extracted from the article]

This petite perennial sedge forms a one-foot mound of narrow, shaggy foliage that may be semi-evergreen in a protected spot. Through its Gold Medal Plants program, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society spotlights outstanding trees, shrubs, vines and perennials for gardens in the Mid-Atlantic region (and similar climates). This compact and erect sub-shrub boasts drought tolerance, aromatic silvery foliage and striking light blue to violet flowers from late summer into autumn. Yew Dell Director Paul Cappiello notes that this yellow-leafed perennial "works like a shrub in the landscape.". [Extracted from the article]

Habit: Herbaceous, perennial groundcover growing six to ten inches tall and spreading outward by underground stems (rhizomes). A beautiful spring-flowering tree for the small garden, "Elizabeth" magnolia boasts large, creamy yellow blossoms covering a tidy canopy. Cornus kousa "Greensleeves" is a medium-size tree or large multistemmed shrub grown for its beautiful late-spring bloom. Habit: "Greensleeves" is a deciduous tree that grows 15 to 25 feet tall with a crown width of 10 to 20 feet. [Extracted from the article]

"The Ultimate Wildlife Habitat Garden" by Stacy Tornio is a comprehensive guide that helps readers attract birds, bees, and other wildlife to their gardens. The book provides practical information on creating attractive habitats for different categories of wildlife, along with profiles of widespread species found across the United States. Each chapter includes recommended plants that attract wildlife, allowing readers to build a beautiful garden that supports wildlife throughout the year. The book also features 10 illustrated example gardens, showcasing different themes and addressing specific challenges. [Extracted from the article]

"NATURE, DESIGN, AND HEALTH" is a book by David Kamp that reflects on his 40-year career as a landscape architect, educator, and advocate. Kamp explores the role of landscape design in improving the lives of patients, their families, and care workers. He shares various projects, discussing the challenges faced and how he resolved them, such as balancing privacy and observation in outdoor spaces and creating secure yet subtle gardens for people with dementia. The book is illustrated with Kamp's sketches, plans, and photographs of completed projects, showcasing the impact of gardens on health and well-being. [Extracted from the article]

Jacqueline van der Kloet, a landscape designer known for her expertise in bulbs, has written a book called "Growing Bulbs in the Natural Garden." The book was inspired by her work with volunteers at a garden expo in the Netherlands, where she realized there were knowledge gaps about bulbs. The book provides information on specific bulbs, their care, and planting, as well as advice on incorporating bulbs into existing garden frameworks. It also includes discussions on color and design, with examples from van der Kloet's own projects. Readers should note that the book is written from the perspective of a gardener in the Netherlands, so they may need to consider their own climate and convert metric measurements. [Extracted from the article]

"The Garden Journal" by Linda Vater is a useful book for gardeners looking to improve their skills and garden design. The journal provides space to record garden details, such as soil type and layout, as well as important information like contact details and conversion charts. The book is divided into seasons, with each section offering tips and reminders for tasks specific to that time of year. The journal also includes space for daily records over five years, allowing gardeners to track their progress and observations. Linda Vater, a self-taught gardener, shares her expertise and encourages others to learn through hands-on experience. [Extracted from the article]

In the book "What Makes a Garden" by Jinny Blom, the author explores the various elements that contribute to the creation of a garden. Blom emphasizes that gardens are not wilderness, but rather a reflection of human experiences and emotions. She discusses how gardens express culture and fulfill our physical and psychological needs. The book also delves into the practical aspects of garden design, such as fences, gates, and paths, and includes examples of gardens that Blom has designed. While not a how-to guide, the book offers valuable insights into the design process and encourages readers to make sensitive choices in their own gardens. [Extracted from the article]

For example, his passage on garden paving discusses various materials and their pros and cons. By Félix de Rosen Princeton Architectural Press, 2023 Félix de Rosen, a landscape designer and artist, offers a uniquely joyous examination of gardens and their potential in his debut book. These examinations push us toward making freer choices for such features in our own gardens. [Extracted from the article]

SCARLET RUNNER BEAN PHASEOLUS COCCINEUS Both edible and ornamental, scarlet runner bean produces beautiful red flowers and eight-inch-long beanpods that can be eaten whole or shelled for use as fresh or dried beans. CANARY CREEPER TROPAEOLUM PEREGRINUM The wing-like, golden petals of this Peruvian vine's flowers are said to have inspired its common name, canary creeper. SWEET PEAS LATHYRUS ODORATA A cottage-garden classic, sweet peas provide masses of fragrant, often bicolored blooms during spring and summer. [Extracted from the article]

This coarse-textured deciduous shrub has large, white spring flowers and golden fall foliage. Chokeberry is a medium-size deciduous shrub with a delicate spring bloom, long-lasting red berries and bright red fall foliage. Habit: Flowering raspberry is a coarse shrub made up of many thorn-free canes that rise from the ground. Like bigleaf hydrangea (H. macrophylla), this shrub sets its flower buds on old wood, so avoid pruning it in the fall, winter or spring. [Extracted from the article]

For trees and shrubs, fall-planting instructions run the same as spring-planting advice, and usually end with the recommendation to water the new tree or shrub well and then apply an even layer of mulch to conserve soil moisture and regulate soil temperatures. The common advice to mulch fall-planted trees and shrubs is sound - but take care when you're planting in a garden visited by voles. Surround trees and shrubs with tree guards, tree wrap or hardware cloth to prevent nibbling and damage caused by deer rubbing their antlers on the tree. Particularly susceptible are new, young plantings; trees and shrubs that have not been pruned; and shrubs growing under the eaves of the house or alongside pathways, driveways and the street. INSET: IT'S PEONY (PLANTING) SEASON. [Extracted from the article]

The article offers information on a graphic designer and a professional gardener, Joan Moyers. Topics discussed include she provides garden maintenance and installations as well as container designs. She describes that the front garden as a cottage garden born of two goals-to create constant color and bloom and to minimize weeding; and also mentions her plans to add a border of ornamentals around the gourds' picket fence, which is surrounded by lawn.

The article offers information on the garden cosmos are annuals derived from several Cosmos species native to Mexico and other areas of the North and South America. It mentions cosmos are easy to grow from seed started indoors or sown right into the garden; and also mentions cosmos mix well with plants that have a similar wispy frame but different-looking flowers, such as sweet peas, and chunky pea flowers.

A review is offered for the botanical garden, Limahuli Garden and Preserve located in Hawaiian Islands of U.S., including protection of ancient plants and gardening practices of the garden, and talks about rare plants and species conservation effort of the garden.

Ride along with Greg Coppa as he reviews the ups and downs of his own garden year (page 56). Before you make your spring shopping list, read "Sizable Options" (page 30). Find out how Niki Jabbour is tweaking her veggie-garden routines as the weather becomes more extreme (page 12). [Extracted from the article]