In past years, I have grown Mandevilla plants but this year I have a Dipladenia growing in a container. I know the name is a mouthful, they have to come up with an easier name to pronounce, let alone spell. … The post Mandevilla or Dipladenia? What’s the Difference? first appeared on . The post Mandevilla or Dipladenia? What’s the Difference? appeared first on ..read more

I placed my order of spring blooming bulbs with Brent and Becky’s Bulbs and expect to get them in late October. I ordered hyacinth, muscari, allium, paperwhites, tulips, and an amaryllis. In addition to the quality, part of the reason … The post Pleasantly Scented Paperwhites first appeared on . The post Pleasantly Scented Paperwhites appeared first on ..read more

A familiar fall bloomer in this area is obedient plant (Physostegia virginiana). Thomas Jefferson grew these natives at Monticello, and George Washington had plantings at Mt. Vernon. Philadelphia plantsman John Bartram also grew them and sold them in his catalog. … The post Fall-Blooming Obedient Plant first appeared on . The post Fall-Blooming Obedient Plant appeared first on ..read more

Every May, I put my aloe plant (Aloe vera) outside on the deck to enjoy the summer sun and warmth. This succulent plant thrives and by autumn, she has produced many “pups.” The pups, small aloe vera offsets, crowd inside … The post Aloe Vera: Your First Aid Kit first appeared on . The post Aloe Vera: Your First Aid Kit appeared first on ..read more

As your plants flower and set seed and your fruit ripens on the vine, think of what you would like to save for next year. Saving seed can be easy and cost effective. In addition to saving seed to plant … The post Saving Seeds from Your Garden first appeared on . The post Saving Seeds from Your Garden appeared first on ..read more

As school starts again, it may be time to think about joining a garden club or plant society. It seems counterintuitive to join in the fall when the garden season starts in the spring, but clubs become more active again … The post Learn More About Gardening by Joining a Garden Club first appeared on . The post Learn More About Gardening by Joining a Garden Club appeared first on ..read more

I have been on a Monarda kick lately. To me they have many facets: medicinal and culinary herb, pretty color, unusual flower structure, native plant, pollinator friendly, hummingbird favorite, etc., etc., etc. There are 17 species and two of the … The post Monarda: Natives, Herbs, Beautiful Flowers and Pollinator Magnets first appeared on . The post Monarda: Natives, Herbs, Beautiful Flowers and Pollinator Magnets appeared first on ..read more

August is the time for harvesting the summer’s bounty in the vegetable garden. But it is also the time to sow seeds for cool season veggies that thrive in the fall and winter. Even though it is hot and humid, … The post Plant Now for the Fall and Winter Garden first appeared on . The post Plant Now for the Fall and Winter Garden appeared first on ..read more

This summer has been a real test – on me as a gardener and on my plants. Although I watered my veggies and some other more valuable plants as much as possible, there were some that I did not water … The post Best Performers in my Garden Despite the Heat first appeared on . The post Best Performers in my Garden Despite the Heat appeared first on ..read more

A section of the new garden. The American Horticultural Society’s (AHS) River Farm in Alexandria, VA, has a new garden for the public to enjoy. The Clara B. Plein Memorial Garden showcases about 2,400 plants native to the region representing 30 species. Scott Plein, chairman of the AHS board, spearheaded the effort to create this garden in honor of his grandmother Clara. “My first memories of being in the garden were at my grandparents’ home in DC,” said Scott.  “As a kid, I would spend summers there and sit with my grandmother in the backyard. I would tell her what I wanted to do with ..read more