Bumble bees (Bombus spp.) are highly beneficial insects that pollinate native wildflowers, fruits, vegetables, and many agricultural crops. They’re large robust insects with an easily identifiable black and yellow hairy abdomen. Hundreds of branched hairs pick up and transfer pollen from flowers. About 50 species of bumble bees inhabit North America. They share some common traits […]
Archive for the ‘Flowers’ Category
Unique Life Cycle Of Bumble Bees
Posted by Hugh on December 13th, 2015
Posted in Beneficial Insects, Bumble bees, Garden ecology, Native Plant, Native wildflowers, Perennials, Pollination needs, Southern Appalachian Region, Wildflower 
Comments Off on Unique Life Cycle Of Bumble BeesStop Destroying Forsythias
Posted by Hugh on November 24th, 2015
Forsythia (Forsythia spp.), also called “yellow bells”, is an extremely popular spring flowering shrub (USDA hardiness zones 5-8). Their bright yellow flowers signal the coming of spring. However, many gardeners do not know how to prune them. Tall 8-12 foot forms of F. x intermedia are commonly sold at most U.S. garden centers. Forsythias grow from 2 to 10 […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Forsythia, Heat Tolerance, mulching, Overcrowding, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Rabbit/deer Protection, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness Comments Off on Stop Destroying ForsythiasPreventing Disease Outbreaks In The Garden
Posted by Hugh on November 21st, 2015
When a sick plant has been diagnosed with a viral or bacterial disease, your only option is to remove the diseased branch by pruning or destroy the entire plant. You should start out by practicing prevention. Prevention is adopting good cultural and sanitation practices. Consider the following measures: Start with disease-free […]
Posted in Bacterial diseases, Botrytis disease, Daylilies, Disease prone, Downy mildew, Garden Maintenance, Hosta, Overcrowding, Powdery mildew, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, rose virus, Sanitation, Virus diseases Comments Off on Preventing Disease Outbreaks In The GardenWinterberry Holly Brightens Winter Scene
Posted by Hugh on November 12th, 2015
To escape from dreary days this winter, brightened up your landscape with deciduous hollies. Among a long, long list of deciduous holly species, winterberry holly (Ilex verticillata) is the superior choice (USDA hardiness zones 3-9). Inconspicuous white blooms in spring are followed by red, orange, or yellow berries in fall. Compared to their evergreen […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bee Favorite, container shrub, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Ilex (hollies), Native Plant, Ornamental fruit, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Soil drainage, Soil pH, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, winter hardiness, Winterberry holly Comments Off on Winterberry Holly Brightens Winter SceneFive Summer Perennials You Will Love
Posted by Hugh on November 10th, 2015
In the past few years several great performing perennials have caught my eye. Some are exceptional landscape performers exhibiting long bloom period and exceptional disease resistance. All are hardy in Zones 4-9. Here are five of the best: Echinacea Cheyenne Spirit coneflower mix (Echinacea purpurea ‘Cheyenne Spirit’) offers a […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting Butterflies, Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), Container growing, deadheading, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Ground cover, Hummingbird, Monarda (Beebalm), mulching, Native Plant, Perennials, Phlox, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (Seed), Sedum (Groundcover types), Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, winter hardiness Comments Off on Five Summer Perennials You Will LoveTips On Sowing Milkweed Seeds
Posted by Hugh on November 1st, 2015
Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa), aka butterfly weeds, are tuberous rooted perennials native to the Eastern and southern U.S. (USDA hardiness zones 3 to 9). It grows in dry/rocky open woodlands, prairies, farm fields, and along roadsides. A clump of milkweed plants grow 1- 3 feet tall and spread 1 ½ feet wide. Unlike other milkweeds […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Butterfly weed (Asclepias), Container garden, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Powdery mildew, Rust diseases, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, watering tips, Wildflower, Wildflowers, winter hardiness Comments Off on Tips On Sowing Milkweed SeedsCrocus: A Fine Start To Spring
Posted by Hugh on October 29th, 2015
Crocus (Crocus spp.) can be your wake-up reminder that winter is coming to an end (USDA hardiness zones 3- 8). They bloom in late winter (in the south); fall blooming varieties are also available. Bulbs (they’re actually “corms”) are available in flower colors from blue, purple, white, yellow, and mixed […]
Posted in acidic soil, Autumn flowering, Bulb Crops, Container growing, Crocus, Crocus, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fall crocus, Flowering Bulb, Flowers, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Rabbit/deer Protection, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering bulbs, Virus diseases, Voles, Wildlife attractant, Winter flowering, winter hardiness Comments Off on Crocus: A Fine Start To SpringAvoid Crape Myrtle Woes In Winter
Posted by Hugh on October 25th, 2015
It’s no secret that in many areas with cold winters (USDA hardiness zones 6-9), hardy crape myrtle cultivars are now available. In northern areas like eastern Maryland and northern VA, crape myrtles have been prospering for two decades and more. However, there is one rule regarding winter care — “Don’t Touch”. Hold off all pruning of crape […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, compact tree, Crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia), Fertilizing plants, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Winter bark, winter hardiness, Winter Protection Comments Off on Avoid Crape Myrtle Woes In WinterNew England Aster A Great Pick For Fall Garden
Posted by Hugh on October 22nd, 2015
New England (NE) Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae), aka Michaelmas Daisy, is a long-lived native perennial from the east shore west to New Mexico (USDA hardiness zones 4-8). Flowering time is from August to October. It is a favorite choice for prairie restorations, roadside plantings, and wetland sites. This large aster species […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aster, Attracting Butterflies, Autumn flowering, Bee Favorite, Butterflies, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (Seed), Pruning, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Virus diseases, winter hardiness Comments Off on New England Aster A Great Pick For Fall GardenAdd Alliums In Your Spring Flower Garden
Posted by Hugh on October 19th, 2015
Ornamental alliums, members of the onion family (Amaryllidaceae), produce flowers that are uniquely ball shaped and stand atop long, graceful stems. Young children marvel about the lollipop or stargazing blooms. Depending on species, alliums come in many colors (white, yellow, pink, purple, blue), shapes (round, oval, cascading), and sizes (5 inches to 5 feet tall). […]
Posted in acidic soil, Alliums (onion), Attracting Butterflies, Bee Favorite, Bulb Crops, Butterflies, Container growing, deadheading, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Flower arrangments, Flowering Bulb, Flowers, Heat Tolerance, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, winter hardiness Comments Off on Add Alliums In Your Spring Flower Garden
