Favorite Perennials: Hostas

Also see: Picking Perennials Favorite Perennials: Daylilies Favorite Perennials: Lambs’ Ear I admit that when I first saw Hostas growing happily in many a New England yard I did not care at all for them. Oh they looked fine for a while, the wide bushy plants that were pretty and leafy. But then, there was the long flower stalks that emerged from the plants, and there was just something about those stalks that didn’t appeal to me. Perhaps it is become they remind me too much of potato eyes, a thing that irrationally fears and repulses me. Since my first … Continue reading →

Favorite Perennials: Lambs’ Ear

Whether you have a mild climate or a cold climate, the following perennial plants will do well for you, no matter what your region. Be sure to take a look at these plants the next time you are visiting your local nursery, garden center or home improvement store. Just the name “Lambs’ Ear (or Lamb’s Ear as it is also named) sounds so wonderful, doesn’t it? This plant features lovely silver leaves. And while it does flower, the leaves are enough of an addition to your garden, and the plant is usually grown for the color and texture of the … Continue reading →

Favorite Perennials: Daylilies

Whether you have a mild climate or a cold climate, the following perennial plants will do well for you, no matter what your region. Be sure to take a look at these plants the next time you are visiting your local nursery, garden center or home improvement store. Daylilies There are so many colors and varieties of daylilies, that you can be sure to find a few different kinds that will suite your taste. From bright yellows to bold magentas, these plants are keepers. Daylilies are probably the first type of flower than I ever tried to cultivate. They are … Continue reading →

Picking Perennials

Spring is here and as the birds flock to our yards, we homeowners tend to flock to the garden centers and home improvement stores to pick up our colorful plants. Perennials are a great choice. Instead of going through the process of buying flats of flowers that die off at the end of the season, such as begonias, impatiens, geraniums and petunias, why not pick some perennials. These plants will come back year after year. This saves both time and money. Perennials may cost a little bit more than annuals when you purchase them, but unlike annuals, they will only … Continue reading →

Bring a Spring Planter Indoors

You can bring a little touch of spring into your home with this dramatic display that will give your room a new look that makes a dramatic statement. What you will need for this idea is an outdoor planter vase. There are many options to chose from. You can purchase an outdoor planter specifically for this look, or just utilize a planter that you may already have on hand. Choose a planter vase that will suit your favorite arrangement. For a bold flower, choose a bold planter. Small delicate flowers, such as miniature tulips would benefit from a petite pot. … Continue reading →

Designing The Perfect Mother’s Day Flower Arrangement

What mother wouldn’t appreciate receiving a beautiful bouquet of flowers on Mother’s Day? Yesterday my 3-year-old presented me with a heap of crunchy grass blades and declared the “bouquet” my Mother’s Day present. I did what any other self-effacing mother would have done: thanked her with a kiss on the cheek then placed the blades in a pretty pink bowl (where some of them continue to float this morning). Let’s face it; flowers (and other greens) are the most popular gifts to give on Mother’s Day. Whether you pick a bunch of blooms from your own backyard (preferably not the … Continue reading →

Picking The Right Flowers For Valentine’s Day—The Day I Bought Flowers For A Boy

Roses are Red Some Orchids are Green I Love You A Lot Despite the Miles In Between That was a poem I wrote in 1991 to my then boyfriend (we lived 500 miles apart at the time). I know. I’m not much of a poet, but to make up for my less than stellar prose I also sent him flowers. Sending flowers… it was a bold move on my part. I had never even dreamt of sending flowers to a guy before meeting Roger. But, I was in college and thought it was time to venture out of my comfort … Continue reading →

Valentine’s Day And Your Garden

Flowers and Valentine’s Day—it seems you can’t have one without the other. But for many of us, February is not the exactly the best time of the year to create bouquets from our own gardens. If you happen to live in a part of the world where your garden flourishes year round then putting together an elaborate flower arrangement (or simply picking a bunch of daises) is not out of the question. For the rest of us… it’s time to hit the flower shop. If you are considering skipping the flowers this Valentine’s Day because you think that it’s too … Continue reading →

Plants As Gifts

Have you been invited to attend Thanksgiving dinner at a friend’s home? Or, will you be dining at a family member’s house? Either way, by the very nature of it’s name “Thanksgiving,” one would almost seemed obligated to bring a hostess gift as a token of appreciation for the meal. If your Thanksgiving feast is not a potluck, then you may consider bringing a plant or nice flower arrangement as a gift. If you do give a plant as a holiday gift, you want to try to match the plant with the environment of the recipient’s home. For example, if … Continue reading →

Houseplants That You Positively Cannot Kill

If you are one of those people with a black, brown or other wise green thumb, it’s hard not to develop a complex of some sort when all of your plants wither and die before your very own helpless eyes. Some plants, like people are easier to maintain than others. The following six houseplants get along well with people who don’t understand them and all can be nurtured in indirect lighting and like the same indoor temperature as most people (55-75 degrees F). 1.Cast Iron Plant (aspidistra elatior) Can you guess how this green thing got its name? Think of … Continue reading →