In the states, we know this tough, cold-hardy cabbage cousin as “Dinosaur” kale, its name coming from the rough, leathery texture of its leaves. We use it primarily as an ornamental for the fall and winter garden, combining it with pansies, violas and other cold-hardy winter growers where it provides a textural, architectural accent for…
It’s Sunday afternoon and much of the South is bracing for yet another nasty swipe by Old Man Winter. He has already taken a couple of good whacks at us this season and it looks as though tonight’s snow and ice may extend as far south as Birmingham and perhaps even further! To help chase…
Well, March has certainly come roaring in! For those of you who didn’t see it on the news (or experience it personally), parts of Tennessee received nearly a FOOT of snow last Saturday and Sunday. A FOOT!!! I know that to some of you that’s pretty average, but in the South, where people (cities) are…
Well, you’ve been asking for more plant posts and I’ve been promising more plant posts, so here we go. The garden is waking up! A couple of weeks ago I mentioned that Hamamelis ‘Arnold Promise’ was getting ready to burst. Then it got cold and Arnold decided to keep his head down for a few…
‘Arnold Promise’ Witchhazel, www.fantasticplants.com I’m happy to report that so far, Nashville has dodged today’s weather bullet. We’ll see what happens after it gets dark and the temperature drops a bit. It has been raining almost continually since about 3:30 this morning, but for most of that time it has been in liquid form and…
Well, it was bound to happen eventually. Winter–REAL winter–has reared its ugly head. We’re expecting the coldest temperatures in six years here in Nashville tonight and, in the outerlying areas, possibly the coldest temperatures in nearly 10 years! For those of you in the midwest and northeast, what we’re experiencing here is child’s play compared…
It’s a busy time of year at the birdfeeders! I have an abundance of finches at my new country home–gold finches, purple finches and pine siskins. There are probably some others that I’m not familiar with, yet, but those are the primary three. I haven’t seen any house finches, to date, but I’m sure they’re…
Hippeastrum cybister. Yes, yes, I know. More weird plants. Why not just talk about good old-fashioned red Christmas amaryllis? (Yawn.) Or everyone’s favorite, ‘Appleblossom’? (Yawn.) Or that beautiful red-and-white striped one that Granny grew every year? (Yaaawwn.) Alright, alright. I’m being unfair. I’m sounding like I don’t like the traditional, large-flowered Christmas amaryllis when really,…
It’s berry time again! The onset of cooler autumn weather and the changing of the leaves always reminds me how important berries are in the garden. Plants with berries help to extend the season of interest well into winter in most places. Most berry-producing plants are trees or shrubs of some kind and I thought…
(Originally Posted November 16, 2007 on MySpace)It’s just about that time of year when one of my favorite garden plants begins popping up around the garden. Cyclamen coum inhabits the shady corners and crannies, seeding itself hither and yon, but always in a welcomed way. I never tire of it and if, perhaps, it lands…