Nightshade – Obnoxious Weed

Its True Confession time – I’ve been fooled. The deceiver’s name is Nightshade, and for a long time I thought he was a good guy. He hid his true self behind the beauty of a trellised rose bush and I was misled. Deceived into thinking I was lucky enough to have a clematis on . . . → Read More: Nightshade – Obnoxious Weed

To Plant Cleome Or Not To Plant Cleome? – That Is The Question

I have gone to war on invasives – yet I continue to grow cleome. Yep, it’s a contradiction. There aren’t many plants that are more invasive, unless you go for the really crazy ones that are, or should be, outlawed. So why do I do it? Why do I subject myself to a plant . . . → Read More: To Plant Cleome Or Not To Plant Cleome? – That Is The Question

Zinnia Seeds Are At Home Depot!

That title says it all. I could stop right here and have said enough with “Zinnia Seeds Are At Home Depot!”. Not just any zinnia seeds, but the great big beauties called State Fair. Some years we can’t find the seeds and have to buy plants, so I am pleased to announce that the . . . → Read More: Zinnia Seeds Are At Home Depot!

Silver Brocade Artemisia – A Favorite Groundcover

Silver Brocade Artemisia by the Oak tree

Silver Brocade Artemisia might be a plant you don’t know. I hadn’t heard of it either till the day I bought it 5 years ago. I love the silver color and the texture. It boasts vigorous growth – which makes it a groundcover as far as I . . . → Read More: Silver Brocade Artemisia – A Favorite Groundcover

Never Never Plant Star of Bethlehem

I started to get rid of horribly invasive Star of Bethlehem last year. And by started, I do believe I started what is going to be a multi-year project. This nasty little plant is such a deceiver. The leaves look like my scilla. They look like my grape hyacinths. It looks innocent. It looks . . . → Read More: Never Never Plant Star of Bethlehem

The War With Invasive Plants Continues

I fought a battle against springtime invasive plants. Now another war has been waged against those that raise their battle flag in summer. This time its ditch daylilies and garlic chives. They have got to go. Here you see my ditch daylilies right where they belong…in the garbage can.

Ditch daylilies with tri-color . . . → Read More: The War With Invasive Plants Continues

The Invasives Have to Go

Yes, there has been a change over the years in my gardening philosophy.  Beautiful isn’t enough.  Well-behaved is required.  My phlox have failed miserably in the well-behaved category.  They have been expanding and had now gone well beyond acceptable.  Note I said ‘were’ as I have literally spent days extracting them from my large garden.  . . . → Read More: The Invasives Have to Go

You Call It Goldenrod, I Call It ‘Gone’

Invasive only begins to describe goldenrod. An accurate description would need some adjectives; highly invasive, completely invasive, utterly invasive. Think of the kind of invasive that Attila the Hun was. That is the kind of invasive that Goldenrod is. Drive by a local forest preserve and you’ll know what I mean. Goldenrod will not share . . . → Read More: You Call It Goldenrod, I Call It ‘Gone’

The Perfect Petunia Is Prominent On Our Pretty Patio

Proven Winners has perfected the petunia. I’ve planted Bubblegum for several years now, each year with amazing success. I do water them almost every day and fertilize every week or two. No deadheading. This particular planter was started by Frank Campise and has 3 plants. Mike won it at a Central States Dahlia Society function. . . . → Read More: The Perfect Petunia Is Prominent On Our Pretty Patio

Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day – A Love/Hate Relationship With Daylilies

Imagine a field of daylilies. Better yet, leave nothing to the imagination and just look at the pictures of Open Heart and Siloam Ribbon Candy. You can see why Mike and I came home from the daylily farm many years ago with clumps of several different varieties.

Right now, they are all A+ . . . → Read More: Garden Bloggers’ Bloom Day – A Love/Hate Relationship With Daylilies