The flowers of crape myrtles are a wonderful floral treat in the summer months, several exhibit gorgeous exfoliating bark. Some also show off autumn foliage colors. Here are the best ten species and cultivars of crape myrtles noted for their exfoliating bark. Lagerstroemia hybrids (L. indica x L. fauriei) Hopi – 8-10 feet semi-dwarf shrub; gray brown exfoliating bark; medium pink […]
Archive for the ‘Flowers’ Category
Crape Myrtles Exhibit Beautiful Bark In Winter
Posted by Hugh on December 10th, 2016
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Aphids, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, compact shrub, compact tree, Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Downy mildew, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, mulching, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Uncategorized, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness 
Comments Off on Crape Myrtles Exhibit Beautiful Bark In WinterPhotoperiodism – Short Day/Long Day Plants
Posted by Hugh on December 7th, 2016
“Photoperiodism” or daylength is responsible for triggering flowering in numerous plants. Some examples of short day plants are poinsettias (Euphorbia pulcherrima), fall mums (Dendranthemum spp.), asters (Symphyotrichum spp.), Thanksgiving (Schlumbergera truncata), Christmas (S. bridgesii) cacti, Kalanchoes (Kalanchoe spp.) and Salvias (Salvia spp.). “Photoperiodism” is the amount of light and darkness a plant is exposed to. The […]
Posted in acidic soil, Anemone, Aster, Autumn flowering, Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera), Chrysanthemum, Environmental issues, Fertilizing plants, Flowering house plant, Kalanchoe, Perennials, Petunias, Photoperiod (Daylength), Planting tips, Poinsettia, Potting Mix, Propagation (Cuttings), Purchasing Plants, Roses, Salvia, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Strawberries, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Sunflowers, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips, Winter flowering, winter hardiness Comments Off on Photoperiodism – Short Day/Long Day PlantsKey Points About Poinsettias
Posted by Hugh on December 4th, 2016
The beautiful poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) has become a symbol of the Christmas and winter holidays. The showy colorful bracts, that most people think are the flowers, are actually modified leaves. The tiny “true” flowers are in the center of the bracts. Joel R. Poinsett introduced the poinsettia plant to the United States from Mexico. Poinsett […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn flowering, Fertilizing plants, Heat Tolerance, Interior (house) Plants, Planting tips, Poinsettia, Propagation (Cuttings), Purchasing Plants, Southern Appalachian Region, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips, Winter flowering Comments Off on Key Points About PoinsettiasOld-Fashioned Snake Plants
Posted by Hugh on November 29th, 2016
Snake plant (Sansevieria spp.), aka Mother-In-Law’s Tongue, is an easy to grow succulent. It is one of the hardest house plants to kill, grows in almost any room of your home, and demands little attention except an occasional watering. Its leathery sword-shape leaves are usually marked in gray green marbling. Some varieties may be edged in yellow […]
Posted in acidic soil, Container garden, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Fragrant, Interior (house) Plants, Planting tips, Poisonous or toxic, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Repotting plants, Scale, Snake plant (Sanservieria), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), Uncategorized, watering tips, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Old-Fashioned Snake PlantsAnnouncing AAS Ornamental Winners For 2017
Posted by Hugh on November 23rd, 2016
All American Selection (AAS) has named six Ornamental winners for 2017. Some include some new color breakthough in the series that you already know as well as some newbies. Dianthus ‘Supra Pink’ (Hem Genetics) is an easy-to-grow interspecific dianthus for three-seasons (spring, summer, fall) of garden color. Its mottled, frilly pink flowers stand up to summer’s heat and […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, compost, Container garden, Dianthus (Pinks), Disease resistant, Flowers, Geranium, Heat Tolerance, mulching, Native Plant, Penstemon, Perennials, Periwinkle (annual vinca), Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Star zinnia, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Verbena, winter hardiness, Zinnia Comments Off on Announcing AAS Ornamental Winners For 2017Announcing The AAS 2017 Vegetable Winners
Posted by Hugh on November 20th, 2016
For 2017 All-America Selections (AAS) has selected these winners in the vegetable category. Each is an outstanding garden performer compared to other varieties that it tested against. Three are national winners and one is a regional winner. Fennel ‘Antares’ (Bejo Seed) is a national winner. AAS had never before trialed fennel previously. This beautiful plant has multiple uses: as […]
Posted in Attracting Butterflies, Bees and other pollinators, Container garden, Disease resistant, Fennel, Fragrant, Fruits & Vegetables, Pepper, Planting tips, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Tomato Comments Off on Announcing The AAS 2017 Vegetable WinnersFacts About Garden Watering – How Much And When
Posted by Hugh on November 13th, 2016
Modern gardeners are using more efficient drip irrigation or soaker hoses. Water bills are less than overhead or oscillating systems. You may opt to attach the hose to an automatic timer so you can irrigate in absentia. Water goes on and off anytime you select. In garden beds water plants deeply once weekly rather than a […]
Posted in Azaleas (evergreen), Blackberries, Blueberries, Container garden, Daphne odora, Disease prone, Environmental issues, Flowers, Fruits & Vegetables, Garden Maintenance, Hosta, Ligularias, Mountain laurel (Kalmia), Perennials, Planting tips, Rhododendrons, Slugs, Slugs, Snails, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, watering evergreens, Weed control, Winter Protection Comments Off on Facts About Garden Watering – How Much And WhenAmerican Witchhazel Blooms in Autumn
Posted by Hugh on November 7th, 2016
American witchhazel (Hamamelis virginiana) is the last native flowering plants to bloom in the calendar year. It is a deciduous shrub or small tree, native to woodlands, forest margins and stream banks in eastern North America (USDA hardiness zones 3-8). It typically grows 15-20 feet tall as a multi-stemmed shrub and 30 feet tall in tree form. Beginning in […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn flowering, Bees and other pollinators, container shrub, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fragrant, Japanese beetles, mulching, Native Plant, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (layering), Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, winter hardiness, Witchhazel (Hamamelis) Comments Off on American Witchhazel Blooms in AutumnDeerproofing
Posted by Hugh on November 4th, 2016
Deer love to eat most of the flowers, plants and trees in your garden. To discourage deer from eating your garden, you basically have three (3) options. Construct a Barrier or Fence. Make your garden unpleasant for deer. Choose plants that deer don’t like. Deer Barriers and Fences Deer can jump an […]
Posted in Blueberries, Container garden, Deer resistant, Environmental issues, Flowering Bulb, Fragrant, Fruits & Vegetables, Hydrangea, Ornamental Pepper, Perennials, Rabbit/deer Protection, Roses, Southern Appalachian Region, Trees & Shrubs, Wildlife attractant Comments Off on DeerproofingLongwood’s Chrysanthemum Festival
Posted by Hugh on November 2nd, 2016
As fall mums are finishing up in our gardens, Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, PA has debut their annual chrysanthemum display in the Conservatory. More than 17,000 chrysanthemums were nurtured and trained, some for more than a year by their talented horticultural staff to resemble balls, spirals, columns, pagodas, and more. It is the […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, Chrysanthemum, Chrysanthemum, Container garden, Fall Garden Interest, Flowering house plant, Flowers, Horticultural Therapy, Perennials, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Sanitation, Soil pH Comments Off on Longwood’s Chrysanthemum Festival
