Gardening How To

In an unstable, disorienting, and often infuriating world, it can be the purest tonic to see your garden reliably spring to life and throw color around your garden. Because of the intellectual stimulation and therapeutic benefits it provides, gardening has long attracted some of the world’s greatest thinkers. As a result, there is a wide variety … Read more

Rosa is a genus of about 150 species of deciduous (occasionally evergreen) shrubs and climbers noted for their beautiful, often fragrant, single, semidouble or double flowers which are borne singly or in clusters on often prickly stems clad with 5-9 leaflets often having toothed margins. Climbing rose also referred to as crawling rose, is any rose … Read more

Floribunda is a hybrid group of garden roses that was developed by crossing hybrid teas with polyantha roses, the latter being derived from crosses between Rosa chinensis and Rosa multiflora. The idea was to create roses that bloomed with the polyantha profusion, but with hybrid tea floral beauty and colour range.  Typical floribundas feature stiff … Read more

The cactus family (Cactaceae) is a fascinating world of bright flowers and spiny stems, ranging from tiny plants to the huge desert giants. All cactus are native to the Americas, with the exception of one species. Cacti are found from British Columbia to South America, sharing a few specialized characteristics that determine whether or not … Read more

As one of the most easily recognized tropical plants, Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia ssp) gets its common name from its unusual flowers, which resemble the beak and head plumage of a bird in flight. Native to South Africa, where it also is called the crane flower, Bird of Paradise type plants are popular in conservatory … Read more

Introduction Lilies add graceful elegance and fragrance to any garden, blooming from early summer all the way through fall, depending on the type. By carefully blending early, mid-season, and late varieties into your garden, you will enjoy their magnificent blooms from spring through first frost. At home in both formal and naturalistic settings, most lilies also … Read more

Sempervivum is a genus of about 40 species of flowering plants in the family Crassulaceae, commonly known as houseleeks. Other common names include liveforever and hen and chicks, a name shared with plants of other genera as well. It is a mat-forming succulent that produce rosettes of juicy leaves. These leaves are often covered by … Read more

The Aeonium genus consists of approximately 40 species of succulents, many of which are grown as container or garden plants. Aeoniums are characterized by their spiraling, succulent leaf rosettes and their panicles of small white or yellow blooms. The genus name derives from the Greek word “aionion,” or ever living, which references the ability some … Read more

A succulent is any plant with thick, fleshy (succulent) water storage organs. Succulents store water in their leaves, stems, or roots. Succulent plants are some of the hardiest, most drought tolerant in the world and very easy to maintain, as long as they are planted in a porous soil, proper drainage, daily bright light, and not over watered. … Read more

What are Perennials? Perennials are those flowers that return reliably year after year—whereas annuals are those one-season wonders that add color and need to be replaced every spring. It’s the perennials which form the backbone of a garden, whereas annual are planted for spots of color. Think of perennials as the foundation.  An advantage of perennials is that they require minimum … Read more