Every gardener does it at some point: deliberately plant something in the garden that turns out to be a thug that takes years to remove--if ever. Read on to learn more about the plant I'm struggling with.
wildflower-wednesday
Fly Honeysuckle: My Earliest-Blooming Native Shrub
April 26, 2019 – Posted in: Native/Invasive, What's up/bloomingDo you know fly honeysuckle? It's blooming in my woods right now. A humble, modest plant--but I treasure it. Read my blog post to find out why.
The Creepiest Native Plant I Know
October 24, 2018 – Posted in: Native/InvasiveJust in time for Halloween: the creepiest native plant I know! Do you dare to read about it? Don't blame me if you have nightmares!
Zig-Zag Goldenrod
September 26, 2018 – Posted in: Native/Invasive, The Secret GardenA goldenrod that grows in the shade? Yes, there is such a thing!
Is It A Garden Plant Or A Weed Wildflower?
September 27, 2017
– Posted in:
Native/Invasive
Every flower is a wildflower--a native plant--somewhere, though this is easy to forget when that "somewhere" is on the other side of the world. On the other hand, it's easy to take our own native wildflowers for granted, or even despise them as weeds. And many popular garden plants native to North America had to be recognized as garden-worthy by gardeners in other countries before they were adopted by gardeners here. So, how do you tell if a plant belongs in the garden, or is a wildflower--or a weed?
Jewelweed: Wildflower Wednesday
August 25, 2017 – Posted in: Native/InvasiveIf you have to have a weed in your garden, jewelweed is a great choice. In fact, if it doesn't grow in your garden, I feel a little bit sorry for you. It's as nice a weed as a gardener could wish for--if a gardener needed to wish for weeds. Read more to find out why!
What’s Blooming In My Damp Meadow
July 28, 2017 – Posted in: Native/Invasive, What's up/bloomingI get so engrossed with gardening around the house during the summer that I tend to ignore the wilder parts of our property. I decided to remedy that and take a walk through our damp meadow, and I'm glad I did. Why don't you join me, and we'll see what we can see. There are a few plants I didn't realize were growing on our property, and plenty of the usual suspects. Maybe you can help me identify some of them!
Red Elderberry: Wildflower Wednesday
May 24, 2017 – Posted in: Native/Invasive, The Secret GardenI've lived here over five years now, but just when I think I've seen all the plants that grow wild here, another one catches my attention and arouses my curiosity. Several people suggested it was baneberry, and baneberry does bloom around the same time, with a similarly shaped flower. Only one problem: Baneberry is herbaceous, and the flowers were blooming on a woody plant. Hmm, what could it be?
How To Spot An Alien
October 26, 2016 – Posted in: Native/InvasiveNative plants, those that are naturally occurring in your garden's locale, are adapted to your climate. They won't leaf out while there's still a chance they'll be harmed by cold weather, and they drop their leaves when it's clear wintery cold is returning. Alien plants came from Somewhere Else--whether by your hand or uninvited--and don't [...]
Young Witch Hazel: Wildflower Wednesday September 2016
October 1, 2016 – Posted in: Native/InvasiveWalking up the hill to view the witch hazels in bloom was a favorite fall activity at our old house. For the past four years, I've thought we didn't have any on our property. Our neighbor said he had some on his land, so I always hoped I might someday find one. Turns out there's [...]
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