Caladium (pronounced ka-LAY-dee-um) is a genus of tubers grown for their colorful summer foliage. Heart-shaped leaves grow up to 15 inches long and 10 inches wide, in freckled or streaked shades of pink, white, rose, red, green, burgundy, and occasionally yellow. Plants are perennial in zones 9 and warmer. Some gardeners opt to grow them as annuals. They look fabulous in shady beds or hanging baskets. They can also be grown as houseplants by those who enjoy a challenge. Caladiums prefer moist, acidic soil that is high in organic matter. They prefer shade or partial shade, and pair well with Be ..read more

I enjoy recycling ugly things into beautiful things, especially garden decorations. So, when I spotted four weathered concrete statues in a thrift store last year, my “fix it” alarm sounded. Below is the step-by-step transformation. Follow my steps on your own weathered piece to produce a passable imitation of bronze. Here is the forlorn foursome, positioned in the rear of a thrift store and priced to sell. The Four Seasons in concrete, found at a thrift store for a few dollars each After transporting them home (ugh–heavy!), I used water and a stiff brush (kitchen dish brush for larger areas ..read more

“Common” names often cause confusion about plant identity. The spring-flowering groundcover at my childhood home was always called Thrift. It wasn’t until I started working at a garden nursery that I learned that its true identity was Phlox subulata, pronounced FLOCKS sub-yoo-LAH-tah. Then a customer asked for Thrift but meant Armeria, also known as Thrift. The two Thrifts are completely unrelated. Armeria juniperifolia (juniper-leaved thrift) and Armeria maritima (sea thrift) grow up to one foot tall. One has sharp foliage like a juniper while the other has grassy-like foliage. Both are ..read more

Spring’s arrival in evident in the woodlands: the reddish tint of maple trees, the yellow-green of new leaves on others. From a distance, I spotted a haze of yellow that I assumed to be flowering Carolina Jessamine, the SC state flower. But no, it was the early flowers of Sassafras, pronounced SAS-ah-fras. Sassafras is a deciduous native, found in more than half of the states, and is hardy in zones 4-9. It can be either a tree or a multi-stemmed shrub and will grow in neutral to acidic soil of almost any texture. It prefers full sun to partial sun. Flowers on female trees produce blue-black se ..read more

I have no self-restraint when it comes to starting seeds indoors. Every year I begin too early and then I’m faced with seedlings that need to be planted outdoors or risk the danger of them becoming rootbound in their starter trays. I study the average temperature charts and review weather projections like a professional meteorologist. I transplant too early, and inevitably face a late frost. Then, I scurry around with row covers, old sheets, milk jugs, carboard boxes, and anything else I can find to protect my precious babies. Does this sound familiar to you? Please, follow my advice and not m ..read more

Gardeners have a special affinity for rare plants like the Blue Poppy (Meconopsis) or the Franklin tree (Franklinia alatamaha). In March and April, plant enthusiasts travel for miles to Devils Fork State Park in Salem, SC to catch a glimpse of the rare, prized Oconee Bell plant in bloom. This wildflower occurs naturally in only seven counties in the US. The Oconee Bell plant (Shortia galacifolia, pronounced SHORE-tee-uh guh-lay-sih-FOE-lee-uh) was discovered in 1788 by French botanist André Michaux. Unfortunately, he did not record the exact location of his discovery. Fifty years later, an Ame ..read more

Signs of early spring are appearing everywhere. Crocus are flowering and early daffodils are in bloom where I live. Abelias are showing tiny leaves, buds are swelling on the Fothergillas, and maple trees are starting to show a red cast. One of my earliest spring indicators is the emergence of Sweet Little Betsy, Trillium cuneatum, pronounced TRIL-ee-um kew-nee-AH-tum. Other common names include Purple Toadshade, Wake Robin, and Bloody Butcher. My Trillium originated with my husband’s grandmother, a remarkable gardener. My family enjoyed them for years when we lived at New Hope Farm. I dug the ..read more

Look out, Bradford Pear tree. There is a new contender for the title of Worst Invasive Tree in the US. It is Tree of Heaven, Ailanthus altissima. Tree of Heaven (TOH) was introduced by a Pennsylvania gardener in 1784 as an ornamental. Native to China, it has spread like mad and is now found in 42 of the lower 48 states. TOH tolerates any type of soil, any moisture level, and any soil acidity. It grows in sun or shade. It produces hundreds of thousands of seeds annually. Within three months of seed germination, the tree has put down a taproot that helps it survive drought. It grows fast, up to ..read more

Yesterday was one of those rare, glorious, warm days in the middle of winter. It is too early to start seeds or fertilize. Despite the calendar saying early February, I was able to work outdoors for hours without bundling up for a blizzard. And what did I do during those hours? Pulled weeds, of course.  The recent warm days, the rains, and the slow lengthening of days have encouraged all those dormant nasties to spring to life. Weeds are tiny and the soil is damp, so they cannot resist a gentle tug. If you get rid of them now, you will be a happier gardener come May. By that time, roots a ..read more

The calendar may say February and the forecast is for freezing temperatures, but that does not stop me from yearning to be outdoors in the garden. While it is too cold and too wet to garden, I have been reading about the use of animal manures as fertilizer. There is a lot to learn. Allow me to summarize a few important points. Animal manure provides the big three – Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium – as well as micronutrients. It is also a good source of organic matter, which improves soil structure. Horse, cow, sheep, and chicken manures are used in farming and gardening. They have different le ..read more