Zinnias and Cosmos are one of the easiest and most prolific annual combinations for endless blooms from summer through fall. Bonus: This combination makes an instant cutting garden! One of the best things about wildflowers is how easy they are to grow and maintain, but designing a thoughtful wildflower garden can take time, research, and…
The several dozen species of peonies that are grown mostly by enthusiasts, specialists and researchers are often reproduced by seeds. Seeds are occasionally employed to establish the principal horticultural peonies, but of course seeds will rarely reproduce the beautiful flowers of cultivars that have been maintained as clones. Peony seeds may have complex dormancy requirements,…
For the past several years, the Vallarta Botanical Garden has been purchasing parcels of land that adjoin the VBG, thanks to the generous donations of some of our members and benefactors. These land purchases are not intended for an expansion of the Garden, but are a buffer zone that will forever remain in its pristine…
Judith makes observations, including on bee and wasp diversity, as part of research done by a PhD student, as the bee hotel is dismantled for the season. While the weather is still incredibly mild, I am seeing many of the signs of autumn. Most of the trees have lost their leaves and the chickadees are…
Judith describes her simple process for drying sage. I stopped and drank in the view this morning on my way to open the chicken house. The trees were putting on such a show. I moved here over thirty years ago at this time of year, and these were the colours that welcomed me. Every year…
It’s time to set the stage for brilliant spring color by choosing bulbs to plant in the fall to enjoy in your beds, borders, and containers in the spring. Plant before the middle of October for sheer joy next spring. For the optimal visual effect, plant in multiple groupings of 10–20 bulbs around existing perennials and…
Canada Milk Vetch is great for attracting hummingbirds, birds, butterflies, and bees. The flowers and seed heads are excellent for bouquets, and the leaves have great texture. This is an excellent plant for heavy clay soils. It is deer repellent and spreads via rhizomatous growth. Good for use in restoration gardens and erosion control. Extreme…
White pine uses include the sensation of opening the lungs, throat, and sinuses, leading to a feeling of warmth, comfort, and stimulation. Eastern White pine, scientifically named Pinus strobus, is a tall and mighty conifer tree falling under the Pinaceae family. Also known as the soft pine, this species is native to eastern North American…
Blue vervain, or American vervain, is a hardy and drought-tolerant plant native to North America. It is a traditionally important plant, widely distributed in almost every state in the USA and a few provinces in Canada. Moist prairies and damp thickets are its main habitats. It is a type of perennial herbaceous plant falling under…
Rough-stemmed goldenrod is a herbaceous perennial with rough leaves that can grow up to 2 m (6.6 ft) tall. The majority of its leaves are cauline. Up to 50 stems from a single plant can bear 50–1500 yellow flower heads apiece. It blooms from late summer to early October. It can be distinguished from Solidago…
The White Panicled Aster features daisy-like rays with prominent yellow discs that redden with age and make up clusters of mini-blossoms. Known as Symphyotrichum lanceolatum, it is a flowering plant native to North America in the Asteraceae family. Its common names include asters with panicles, lance-shaped leaves, and white panicles. It is a perennial herbaceous…
Several flowers and vegetables are going to seed. I took the opportunity to carefully collect Sweet Cubanelle pepper seeds. The humidity is oppressive this morning. I feel like I am in a sauna. With the humidity and the rain, you have probably noticed that there has been more munching on the leaves of your plants….
The leaves of the Mad-dog Skullcap are serrated and opposing, and the stem is square and often hairless. As a member of the mint family, one would expect it to have medicinal and beneficial properties. From July to September, it blooms with tiny, trumpet-shaped flowers ranging in colour from light blue to lavender or even…
Bottle Gentian is, with its dark blue closed flower, among the finest perennials to grace the garden in late summer. Bottle gentian has bottle-like deep blue flowers that never actually open. The blooms are pollinated exclusively by bumblebees, which have the size and strength needed to pry open the flowers and gain entry. Bottle Gentians…
Solidago squarrosa may be the most distinctive species of the goldenrods. As a perennial herb, it can reach a height of 190 cm (6 ft). It has a branching underground caudex. Egg-shaped leaves up to 20 cm (8 inches) long near the plant’s base and shorter further up the stem. A slender, elongated array of…
Colorful fall flowers for an easy-care autumn garden can brighten your day. Why should summer have all vibrant blooms! And what better way to liven things up than with a few low maintenance fall plants. Shrub Roses Roses have a reputation for fussiness, but you’ll find that’s not the case with shrub roses. …
Early Goldenrod, also known as Solidago juncea, is a herbaceous perennial wildflower of the family Asteraceae. Once started, it requires little maintenance and grows quickly. It thrives on ordinary, dry to medium, well-drained soil in full sun, and it can withstand poor, dry soils, especially soil with a lot of clay. It is a tolerant…
The hoary vervain, or Verbena stricta, is a type of herbaceous plant falling under the Verbenaceae family. The flowering plant is most commonly found in different states of the United States, namely Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota, North Dakota, Oklahoma, and Kansas, among many others. While it is native to most of the states, it has…
White Heath Aster is a bushy, compact plant with many branched stems smothered in sprays of small, daisy-like white flowers. These sprays are so densely packed with blooms that the plant turns completely white as a result of the sheer number of flowers. The flowers are usually white, but they can be blue or pink…
The four-flower yellow loosestrife, or Lysimachia quadrifolia, is a species of herbaceous plant in the Primulaceae family. It is indigenous to Canada and the eastern United States. An upright, branched form called Lysimachia quadriform grows to a maximum height of around 2 feet (0.61 m). It thrives on calcareous soils under moist to rainy circumstances….
Today I am straining my nasturtium vinegar and making my Nasturtium Vinaigrette. I like to use basil as my herb, but really the herb is your choice. I enjoyed the cool breezes this morning as I did my chores. I can feel the humidity waiting for me just around the corner. The humidity has been…
Ohio Goldenrod (Solidago ohioensis) has a compact form that belies its large, exuberant floral display late in the season. It has flat-topped clusters of vivid yellow flowers, while lance-like leaves form a basal rosette. Seeds are produced with fluff, which is dispersed through the wind. Native Americans and early settlers used this plant to make…
Zaatar is an interesting herb and kind of acts like a climbing sage. The leaves are good to eat fresh, and they are quite spicy when dried. The heat and humidity continue to be a factor and to add to the misery, I am covered in poison ivy and wild parsnip sores. Yes, I did…
Rough Blazing Star features fluffy, deep rose-purple flowers arranged in 1″ button-like heads. Blooming begins, as one would assume, at the top of the flower stalk and steadily progresses downward. The flower display continues from late summer until autumn for 3–4 weeks. Discover more about its sister plants, the slender blazing star and the dense…
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