Featured Plants

Red Jonathan Apples In Your Own Backyard

2008-12-04T13:44:00Z

Jonathan apples are one of the most popular apples for fresh eating. They are an easy treat and healthy as well. I am partial to Jonathan apples since my oldest son is named Jonathan. No, I didn't name him after the apple but I made him eat quite a few as he was growing up.

Jonathan apples are a late ripening variety that can be harvested mid-September to mid-October. They can also be used for cooking in sauces and baking in pies, typically thought of for desserts but can also be used in roasting with meat or included in a stuffing or in a fresh fruit salad. I have a friend who uses apple wedges to dip in peanut butter as a treat. Wildlife are attracted to the apples as well, I also have a friend whose dog likes to pick up the ones that have fallen and chew on them.

The Jonathan apple is a medium sized fruit and will turn bright red in warmer climates and it will be striped in cooler climates. They are hardy to zones 4-8 and prefer cold winters, moderate summers and high humidity. Apple trees do need another tree to pollinate in order to produce the fruit. Good pollinators are Granny Smith, Golden Delicious and Delicious apples. You will want the trees to be no more than 100 feet apart for the best pollination. You can also use a flowering Crabapple tree like a Dolgo as a pollinator.

Sage-A Staple And Ornamental

2008-12-03T13:30:00Z

As I'm writing this, we are coming up on Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. When I think of Sage Salvia officinalis, I can't help but think about using Sage in the Turkey Stuffing. It seems to be a staple at this time of year. Generally, most people will use Sage that is sold at the stores in the Spice section or found in the Vegetable area of the store. There are those that will want to grow their own and have it fresh or personally preserved for future use. It has a peppery flavor and enhances fatty meats as a marinade, couple with onions, vegetable soups to sauces.

Not only is it used in cooking but it is also considered a medicinal herb. In fact, the scientific name for Sage, 'Salvia', means "to heal". While I can't vouch for it's effectiveness or usage, it is said to be good for "what ails you".

It can also be grown as an ornamental garden plant. It has flowers that are blue to purple in color and they are edible as well. The foliage is a gray to green color and accents the fragrant flowers well. The plants are evergreen and can grow up to 2 feet tall and spread about 18 inches. Sage requires a sunny location and an alkaline soil is preferred.

Holly-Winter Red The Queen Of Fruiting Shrubs

2008-12-02T12:30:00Z

The Holly-Winter Red Ilex verticillata 'Winter Red' also called Winter Red Winterberry is the Queen of fruiting shrubs. It is a female shrub so it does need a male to pollinate. The Ilex 'Southern Gentlemen' is the recommended pollinator for the Winter Red to obtain the bright red fruits that are fairly large and beautiful to behold. Birds love the fruits as well so if you are a birdwatcher this would be a great addition to your garden. The foliage is bright green and will turn bronze in the fall. The leaves will last until late in the fall when they will drop off and really expose the bright red berries. It is truly an ornamental shrub and would make a great border plant.

This Holly is hardy to zones 4-9 and requires full sun. It will need some room to grow as it will mature from 6 to 9 feet tall and can spread up to about 8 feet wide. It is a round shaped bush that does best in moist soils but is widely adaptable to soils. It can often be found in the woods or swampy areas. It is truly a delight to behold into the wintertime and all year round.

A Towering Tree The Coast Redwood

2008-12-01T16:23:00Z

The Coast Redwood Sequoia sempervirens has often been called a Giant Coast Redwood due to the fact that it can grow from 50 feet to up to 300 feet tall! (Taller than many buildings including some skyscrapers.) Redwoods can be traced back to the Jurassic Era! They are a tough tree and have very little to no problem with diseases or insects. Their bark can grow up to 12 inches thick and is a reddish brown color which is where their name comes from.

Generally found in California's North Coast, these trees are hardy in zones 7-9. They will grow with a pyramidal shape that is very attractive. They are an evergreen and do best in areas of high moisture and well-drained soil. You will need a very large area for planting. They do have blooms in the spring that are pretty insignificant, their dark green leaves are flat and somewhat needle like. The Coast Redwood is a fast grower but, of course, it may be the next generation who will get to enjoy the full size of these trees.

Oriental Poppies Dramatic & Showy

2008-11-30T18:29:00Z

If you want some show stopping drama in your garden, why not add some Oriental Poppies? These Oriental Poppies Papaver orientale are brightly colored in orange, pink, red, salmon, and white flowers. The flowers are good sized at 4 to 8 inches across. Blooming time begins in late spring to early summer. They will swing and sway in the wind on tall stems with "hairy" foliage that resembles ferns. They are perennials so will continue to come back year after year.

Poppies are easy care, they don't need pampering and very hardy. Full sun is recommended. They are easily grown from seed and once you get them established you can harvest the seed heads for future planting. If you aren't concerned about more seeds, but would like to have them bloom again, you can cut the stem of the flower back and it will re-flower. These make great cut flowers for bouquets and vases and have their own pretty foliage as well.

Want Some Snowflakes In Summer?

2008-11-29T14:12:00Z

I am not a winter person. Give me spring and summer all year long and I would be happy. I will admit to admiring some snowstorms as they can be really beautiful; if I'm home and not on the roads anyway. If they are clogging the streets, that's another story. I would prefer to see those pretty snowflakes in some other way. So this Summer Snowflake Viburnum bush Viburnum plicatum 'Summer Snowflake' is a snowflake I like. The common name for this Summer Snowflake is actually called a Doublefile Viburnum, you may have heard of it under that name.

This Viburnum will flower on horizontal stems with a double row of blooms covering the whole plant. The blooms will grow profusely throughout the summer. The way the blooms lay out on the bush can make it look something like a wedding cake. The berries that grow after the flowers have faded will attract birds if you are a bird watcher. The leaves will also turn a rusty red to bronze in the early fall.

The Summer Snowflake grows in zones 5-9 and prefers well drained soil and full to partial sun. It can grow from 3 to 5 feet tall and 3 to 5 feet wide making it a nice compact shrub. A good place in your landscape to plant this might be at an entryway or on each side of a walkway. If you want snowflakes in the summer, this is your shrub!

Taunton Spreading Yew Graceful & Lovely

2008-11-28T12:16:00Z

Evergreen shrubs are almost a staple in a lot of landscapes because of their beauty, the fact that they stay green all year and they are wonderful complementary background or foreground color for other plants that are placed around them. They make a great hedge as well.

The Taunton Spreading Yew taxus x media 'Tauntoni' is a dark green evergreen that has short needles. The height is maintainable at 3 to 4 foot tall and 4 to 6 feet wide. They can be pruned back as needed. Neither summer heat nor winter burn should bother these shrubs as they are resistant to them. They are a very hardy plant! They can be planted in zones 4-7 and require full to partial sun. They are a somewhat slower growing plant than some other Yews but if you have the patience, they are worth the wait. These would also be a good plant for beginning gardeners.

Theves Poplar A Fast Growing Privacy/Windbreak Tree

2008-11-27T14:14:00Z

If you are looking for a fast growing windbreak or privacy tree, the Theves Poplar Populus nigra 'Afghanica'' is a perfect specimen. It will grow from 40 to 50 feet tall and 8 to 10 feet wide, therefore making a wonderful windbreak or screen. Their upright form looks somewhat like tall columns. These remind me of soldiers standing guard over your home. They grow much faster than most trees to approximately 2-4 feet a year in optimum conditions. It is very hardy from zones 2 to 9.

The Theves Poplar has a nice green foliage that will turn to a pretty yellow in the fall. They are deciduous so they will lose their leaves but that exposes the very interesting bark which when they are older is almost white. They are a narrow tree so would be good for small areas. They do have some tolerance to salt and alkali so you could put them close to sidewalks and streets but you will want to be careful that these areas don't have a lot of activity where there would be lots of salt.

Roll Out the Red Carpet for Sedum - Elizabeth Red Carpet

2008-11-26T14:44:00Z

Sedum Spurium 'Elizabeth Red Carpet' is quite a sight to see. I am used to seeing Sedum used mainly in rock walls or rock gardens. It's a good plant for areas that most things don't like to grow in. It actually likes dry soil, full sun and grows fast. It's red flowers put on a show from May to September and even attracts butterflies and hummingbirds with their bright red color. It makes a good ground cover, border or for edging flower beds and it can even cheer up any bland and boring areas of your landscape. It's foliage is green and it will mature to 3-4 inches tall and can spread to up to 2 feet.

Elizabeth Red Carpet is a perennial and will give you years of joy. It is one of the most colorful Sedums available. It's a very durable plant and has the added plus of being disease resistant. With all of it's wonderful attributes and the options of watching birds, butterflies and hummingbirds, doesn't it make you want to relax in your easy chair nearby and enjoy?

Daylily - Gentle Shepard

2008-11-25T19:17:00Z

Doesn't Gentle Shepard sound like a welcoming flower? The Gentle Shepard Hemerocallis 'Gentle Shepard' shows it's creamy white flowers for a long time from May into July. Each individual flower lasts about a day but it sets on many blooms so that when one flower fades the plant will be in continuous bloom. It is considered a Daylily which is the name for the plants whose blooms come and go daily. The plants stretch up to 12-24 inches tall and spread out 24-36 inches. They are widely adaptable to soil type and moisture. They can take full sun to partial sun but tend to flower best in full sun.

Gentle Shepard Daylilies are great for holding soil on banks and in great bunches or small individual plants lining your yard. Their creamy white color also shows off from the deep green foliage. Daylilies can hold up to just about any weather. They are perennials so will come back year after year. Maintenance is slim to none, they take care of themselves pretty well. The deer and pests seem to keep away from them pretty well but the butterflies tend to take a liking to them with their bright blooms.

If you can't tell already, I especially like them on hillsides, they do double duty there and are a beautiful sight. Bordered with annuals like petunias the contrast is stunning. Try these out on their own or with some other annual or perennial plants and create your own special flower garden.

Dawn Redwood A Decorative Fast Growing Tree

2008-11-24T20:28:00Z

If you are looking for a beautiful fast growing tree, the Dawn Redwood is the one for you. It makes an awesome windbreak as well and would grow and fill in more quickly than the slower growing varieties of trees. As you can see by the pictures above, it also has a very interesting trunk. It would be quite a conversation piece in your landscape. Oftentimes, you will see them planted in medians on the highway.

The Dawn Redwood is considered a deciduous (meaning it will lose it's soft needle like leaves in the fall) conifer. They do have the look of evergreens but the leaves will turn an orange/reddish color in the fall. The trunk is one of it's most outstanding and interesting features. It is extremely useful as a hedge, especially since it grows very rapidly. It is also said to be air pollution tolerant. It grows up to 50-90 feet and will spread out between 15-25 feet. It is widely adaptable and does require full sun. It is hardy to zone 4-8.

The Dawn Redwood would be a great anchor tree by itself or by planting two or more would be very attractive on an acreage or along your driveway as stately "soldiers" watching over your home.

Hosta Patriot Tough Through All Kinds of Weather!

2008-11-23T15:12:00Z

If you are looking for a plant that is hard to kill, this one is for you. The Patriot Hosta Hosta fortunei is especially so as a good beginner plant. They can take a licking and keep on ticking! Sorry for the pun. It has also been awarded the American Hosta Growers' Hosta of the Year in 1997. The Patriot Hosta is covered in glossy green heart-shaped leaves with white edges. It is quite a show-off actually. It grows to about 22 inches tall and 36-48 inches wide. The purple flowers that bloom from July to August form on tall stocks that rise like soldiers, tall above the leaves.

The Patriot Hosta does best in full shade, although I've seen them do well even with a bit of sun. They require little care beyond regular watering, an inch of water a week is recommended. The Patriot Hosta is hardy from zones 3-8 so will grow in most zones. They are beautiful in bunches and look nice planted around the base of trees or around posts or fences. They combine nicely with many other shrubs, annual and perennials. It's fun to mix lots of different types of hostas together as there are many sizes, shapes and growth patterns among them.

Once you realize how easy this Hosta is, you will want to add more for their beauty and ease of care.

Green Pixwell Gooseberry Best Variety on the Market Today!

2008-11-23T02:22:00Z

The Pixwell Gooseberry was introduced from North Dakota and is considered one of the best varieties on the market today. It has few thorns, small clusters and pale green fruit that turns pink when it is ripe. The Pixwell is a very productive plant and is winter hardy from zones 3 to 6. This bush grows up to 15-20 feet tall and 3-4 feet wide. They can be trained to grow on hedges or fences. Production of fruit begins on 2-3 year old wood and the bush has very few thorns.

The best time to plant is autumn or early spring. It has been recommended that you should have one plant per number of family members in the home. Gooseberries can also be planted as Espaliers against a wall. Their resistance to mildew is another plus. They prefer full sun and moist well drained soil. Since the Pixwell is a dense shrub it makes a great hedge. You will probably want to put a net over the fruits to keep birds from flying off with your bountious crop!

The antioxidants in Gooseberries are abundant. They are typically used for jams and jellies as well as pies. They can be eaten fresh but the skin is a bit tart, the inside is the sweetest. If you have been known to search high and low for Gooseberry bushes to harvest why not try growing yours in your own backyard.

Comice Is the Connoisseur's Pear

2008-11-21T16:32:00Z

The Comice Pear is considered the Connoisseur's Pear. Used often by chefs in the best restaurants in fancy desserts. These are also the pears that you often find in gift baskets. Pears make a great sauce like applesauce, or you can even add some apples into the pear sauce to give it a little different flavor. Comice is a large sized pear and very juicy. Eaten off the tree the juice will run down your chin. The flavor is awesome.

Another Pear tree is required for pollination, you could try a Bartlett or D'Anjou among others. It does require full sun as do most fruit trees. It's bloom period is mid-April and harvest is mid-August. A Semi-Dwarf tree is available that grows to 12-14 feet which is a good size to reach for picking. They are blight resistant which is a plus. Just think how nice it would be to have a pear tree in your back yard for enjoying at your leisure.

Rose of Sharon - Paeonyflorus It's A Shrub And A Tree!

2008-11-18T13:50:00Z

This shrub is very interesting. The Rose of Sharon - Paeonyflorus, Hibiscus syriacus Paeonyflorus - can be used as a shrub, a tree or even as an espalier. Espalier planting is new to me. I'm hearing more about it all the time. It was developed in Europe to support a tree to grow flat against a wall or a trellis. This was used for producing fruit and also to form patterns with the branches of the trees. These can be a good choice for a limited space.

If you wish it to grow as a multi-stemmed shrub you can just let it grow naturally. As a single stem tree, you would want to cut back all the stems except the one you wish to use as the one trunk for the tree. Mature height is 10-15 feet tall and it can spread 6-8 feet wide. Another benefit of this shrub is that it blooms from summer into fall with pink to wine colored flowers. If you want a larger flower, you can prune back to 2-3 buds in early spring. Being sterile, the Paeonyflorus will have fewer or no seed pods to have to mess with.