Regular readers of this blog already know I am a fan of using native plants whenever possible. Mind you, I have nothing against exotic plants (non-natives) and have quite a few in my garden growing quite happily alongside my native plants. But, I do find that more and more often, when I am looking for a specific plant [...]
Archive for the ‘Plant Possibilities’ Category
Garden Smackdown Native Plant Challenge
Posted in Gardening in Connecticut, Natives, Sustainable Gardening, tagged Garden Smackdown Native Plant Challenge on March 17, 2010 | 3 Comments »
Swag from Renee’s Garden
Posted in Edibles, Zone 6 gardening, tagged Apricot-Peach Parfait hollyhock, Broken Colors Four o'Clocks, Garden Writers Association, purple pole beans, Rattlesnake beans, Renee's Garden seeds, Sea of Red lettuce, Vanilla Berry nasturtiums on March 8, 2010 | 1 Comment »
One of the many perks of belonging to the Garden Writer’s Association, an organization of professional communicators in the green industry, is the offers for free stuff, or swag, that are beginning to arrive in my mailbox.
It’s actually a simple yet effective marketing strategy on the part of these companies – send samples of your product to [...]
New Shrubs for 2010
Posted in Gardening in Connecticut, Plant Possibilities, Zone 6 gardening, tagged Bloomerang reblooming lilac, Garden Writers Association, Invincibelle Spirit hydrangea, Lo & Behold buddleia, new shrubs for 2010 on February 19, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
Recently I attended New England Grows, a regional trade expo for green industry professionals. In addition to seeing lots of inspiring products and attending some worthwhile educational seminars, I attended my first Garden Writers Association luncheon. In addition to meeting and networking with other garden writers, we were treated to a preview of some of Proven Winners newest shrub introductions for [...]
February Foliage Follow Up
Posted in Plant Possibilities, tagged chamaecyparis pisifera filifera, Foliage Follow-Up, Gold Thread, Pam Penick, Pieris japonica 'Pygmaea' on February 16, 2010 | 7 Comments »
It’s February 16th and that means it’s time to celebrate the foliage, berries, bark and seedpods that are adding interest in your garden. This monthly tribute, Foliage Follow Up, is the brainchild of fellow blogger and ’roundtabler’ Pam Penick of Digging.
As you’ll notice, all my photos today feature snow. With 8+ inches on the ground [...]
An Award for Baptisia australis
Posted in Natives, Plant Possibilities, tagged Baptisia australis, blue false indigo, native perennial, perennial plant of the year on February 11, 2010 | 6 Comments »
Hurray! A stunningly beautiful native plant, Baptisia australis (Blue false indigo), has been named the 2010 Perennial Plant of the Year by the Perennial Plant Association.
To be eligible for ‘plant of the year’ status, a perennial must be suitable for a wide range of climate types, be low maintenance and have a long season of interest. Baptisia australis certainly [...]
Connecticut Native Trees and Shrubs
Posted in Deer-resistant, Gardening in Connecticut, Natives, tagged Amelanchier canadensis, American Holly, Clethra alnifolia, CT Botanical Society, Hamamelis virginianarborescens, Hydrangea aCommon Witchhazel, Ilex glabra, Ilex opaca, Inkberry, Low Bush Blueberry, nativar, native shrubs for Connecticut, native trees for Connecticut, Plant Native, Serviceberry, Smoothleaf Hydrangea, Summersweet, Vaccinium angustifolium on January 23, 2010 | 7 Comments »
Gardening with native plants is an important step towards sustainable landscaping, in part because native plants use fewer resources than non-native plants. Over thousands of years, native plants have adapted to not only tolerate but thrive in typical regional growing conditions. When sited and planted correctly, native plants do not require much, if any, additional fungicides, [...]
And the Award Goes to…TigerEye Gold Rudbeckia
Posted in Gardening Inspiration, Plant Possibilities, tagged American Garden Awards, TigerEye Gold rudbeckia on January 11, 2010 | 2 Comments »
In 2009, visitors to seventeen prestigious public gardens located throughout the US had an opportunity to vote for their favorite garden plant. As a sign of our mobile, always-connected times, voting was done via cell phone text message or by dialing an 800 number.
The award, dubbed the American Garden Award, was hosted by All-American Selections. Six different flowers were grown [...]
Red Majestic Corylus
Posted in Deer-resistant, Plant Possibilities, tagged Corylus avellana Red Majestic, tree for winter interest, tree with purple foliage on January 6, 2010 | 2 Comments »
Purple foliage adds an interesting accent to a garden. And trees and shrubs with funky, twisted branches make unique architectural sculptures in the winter garden. But until now, it’s been difficult to find one plant that offers both characteristics.
Corylus avellana ’Red Majestic’ is a true four season stunner. Like its more popular cousin Harry Lauder’s Walking Stick [...]
Marvelous Mahonia aquifolium
Posted in Deer-resistant, Gardening in Connecticut, Zone 6 gardening, tagged deer resistant shrub, Mahonia aquifolium, Mahonia aquifolium 'Apollo', Mahonia aquifolium 'Compactum', Mahonia aquifolium 'Smaragd', shade tolerant evergreen shrub on December 16, 2009 | 1 Comment »
Here is southwestern Connecticut (zone 6), Mahonia aquifolium (Oregon Grapeholly) is definitely a relative unknown. A native to the Pacific northwest and much of Canada, it is worthy of a place in shady gardens throughout zones 4 – 8, especially if you have deer browsing in your garden.
Oregon grapeholly has large, glossy evergreen leaves that resemble those [...]

