Japanese apricot (Prunus mume), aka Chinese plum, is a beautiful reminder that perhaps the worst of winter may now be behind us. On days barely above freezing, their cheery fragrant blossoms open, although rarely in great numbers. Cold nights may damage any open blossoms, but new buds will emerge in the next warmup. This small […]
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“Witchhazel” Winter Time
Posted by Hugh on February 9th, 2026
Add flowering and fragrance to your winter garden. Witchhazels (Hamamelis spp.) are prized for their strap-shape petalled flowers which bloom mid- to late winter. Depending on species and cultivar, blooming begins in late January and many possess fragrant blooms. Witchhazels are medium to large deciduous shrubs, typically 12-20 feet tall. Foliage texture is somewhat coarse. […]
Posted in acidic soil, Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Caterpillars, Chlorosis (yellowing), Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fragrant, Japanese beetles, Landscape ideas, Leaf/needle spots, mulching, Non-native, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Propagation (Cuttings), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips, Winter flowering, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness, Witchhazel (Hamamelis) 
Comments Off on “Witchhazel” Winter TimeBloodroot In The Spring Garden
Posted by Hugh on February 1st, 2026
Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) is a member of the poppy family Papaveraceae. This botanical family includes about 825 species, including bleeding hearts (Dicentra spp. and Lamprocapnos spectabilis), Corydalis, and opium poppy (Papaver). Bloodroot is native to the eastern half of North America continent from Canada south to Florida. Bloodroot typically rises 6-10 inches tall and spreads over time to […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, bloodroot (Sanguinaria), Container garden, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Environmental Conservation, Fragrant, Ground cover, Landscape ideas, Native Plant, Native Plant, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Wind protection, winter hardiness Comments Off on Bloodroot In The Spring GardenDon’t Plant These Trees In Your Landscape
Posted by Hugh on January 27th, 2026
Invite landscape trees to your property that will be long-lived, seasonally beautiful, and low maintenance. Gardeners are looking for all kinds of plants that invite pollinators and songbirds to their property. We also wish to avoid critter proof and invasive plants. Below is a list of notoriously bad tree choices in most urban yards and […]
Posted in Ash (Fraxinus), Bradford Pear, Callery pear (Pyrus calleryana), Canker disease, Deciduous, Emerald ash borer, Evergreen, Garden Problems, Green ash (Fraxinus), Invasive species, Landscape ideas, Messy Fruits, Mimosa tree (Albizia), Mulberry (Morus), Native Plant, Non-native, Pests, Planting tips, Poplar (Populus spp.), Siberian elm (Ulmus pumla), Silver maple (Acer saccharinum), Southern Appalachian Region, Street tree, Sumac (Rhus), Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus), Trees & Shrubs, Willows (Salix) Comments Off on Don’t Plant These Trees In Your LandscapeStunning Midwinter Fire Dogwood
Posted by Hugh on January 22nd, 2026
‘Midwinter Fire Bloodtwig dogwood (Cornus sanguinea) is a multi-season deciduous shrub that is native to Europe and western Asia. It is an upright, round-topped, spreading, twiggy, multi-stemmed, deciduous shrub that typically matures to 8-15 feet tall and as wide. It is native to northern Europe and northwestern Asia (USDA hardiness zones 4-8). ‘Midwinter Fire’ is […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aggressive grower, Attracting birds, Bees and other pollinators, Cornus sanguinea, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Erosion control, Fall Garden Interest, Flower Arranging, Flower arrangments, Flowering, Flowering shrub, Landscape ideas, mulching, Non-native, Ornamental bark, Ornamental fruit, Planting tips, Privacy Screen, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Propagation (layering), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, Wildlife attractant, Winter Garden Interest, winter hardiness Comments Off on Stunning Midwinter Fire DogwoodVery Different Hart’s Tongue Fern
Posted by Hugh on January 13th, 2026
Hart’s Tongue Fern (Asplenium scolopendrium) is an evergreen fern with a tropical look. This glossy green native fern with elegant, smooth, unserrated edged fronds that are 8 -16 inches in length. Hart’s Tongue is native to Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia. Disjunct North American populations are found in parts of Ontario Canada, […]
Posted in acidic soil, alkaline soil, Container garden, Evergreen, Ferns, Hart's Tongue Fern (Asplenium), Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Non-native, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Summer heat tolerant, Winter Garden Interest Comments Off on Very Different Hart’s Tongue FernNew Redbuds From Dr. Dennis Werner
Posted by Hugh on January 7th, 2026
Despite his retirement from NC State University, Dr. Werner, the redbud breeder of varieties like ‘Flamethrower’ and ‘Ruby Falls’, has introduced two more new varieties. Both cultivars are the beginning of the new compact redbud series. The two newest redbud releases from NCSU are ‘Pom Poms’ and ‘Amethyst’ are two new compact redbud trees. (Zone […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, Breeding Plants, Cold tolerance, compact tree, Deciduous, Disease resistant, Drought tolerant, Fertilizing plants, Flower Arranging, Landscape ideas, mulching, Native Plant, Planting tips, Propagation(grafting), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Redbud, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Summer heat tolerant, Trees & Shrubs, watering tips Comments Off on New Redbuds From Dr. Dennis WernerEarly Risers In The New Year Garden
Posted by Hugh on January 2nd, 2026
Some flowering bulbs, corms, and tubers are early-bloomers. With the start of calendar year January 2026, several days in the 50’s and 60’s have been forecasted. In our garden, flowers of three perennials are beginning to poke through the soil. That’s besides the early daffodils which are always early-risers but hold off blooming until late […]
Posted in acidic soil, Bees and other pollinators, Deciduous, Deer resistant, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Flower arrangments, Galanthus (snowdrops), Ground cover, Hellebores, Lenten rose (Hellebore), mulching, Non-native, Perennials, Planting tips, Propagation (dividing), Propagation (Seed), Purchasing Plants, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, Winter aconite (Eranthis), Winter flowering, winter hardiness Comments Off on Early Risers In The New Year GardenRestart Your Amaryllis Bulb
Posted by Hugh on December 27th, 2025
Amaryllis is native to Cape Province in South Africa, and as with other bulbs native to this region. They benefit from a period of dry dormancy before reblooming again. In the autumn season, many temperate zone gardeners bring potted amaryllis bulbs indoors and dry out potting soil to induce dormancy. By withholding water, amaryllis leaves […]
Posted in acidic soil, Amaryllis, Amaryllis (Bulb), Container garden, Disease resistant, Fertilizing plants, Flowering Bulb, Forcing, Light requirement, Non-native, Planting tips, Potting Mix, Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Repotting plants, Root rotting, Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Spring flowering, watering tips, Winter flowering, Winter Garden Interest Comments Off on Restart Your Amaryllis BulbAll About Snake Plants
Posted by Hugh on December 1st, 2025
Snake plants (Dracaena trifasciata) are one of the most popular houseplants and for good reason. It is incredibly drought-tolerant, able to go for weeks without water, and in low and medium lighting conditions. A majority of species are native to Western and Southern Africa and the Asian subcontinent. They are known under a number of […]
Posted in acidic soil, Aphids, Container garden, Disease resistant, Dracaena, Drought tolerant, Evergreen, Fertilizing plants, Flower arrangments, Interior (house) Plants, Landscape ideas, Mealy bugs, Mites, Propagation (Cuttings), Propagation (dividing), Pruning, Purchasing Plants, Scale, Snake plant (Sanservieria), Soil drainage, Southern Appalachian Region, Tropical Plants (non-hardy), watering tips, White flies Comments Off on All About Snake Plants
