I’ve spent a bit of time over the last few weeks with my stepdaughter Katie at her first home, working with her on the basics of landscaping. She’s never gardened before and this is her first time experiencing the joys of home ownership. After this weekend, she’s getting close to seeding her first lawn. She’s
Tony and Katie occupying the garden Read More »
I’ve just returned from a whirlwind trip to Texas to speak for one of my favorite gardens, Mercer Arboretum in Houston, Texas. One of my side trips was to visit Shangrila in lower southeast corner of Texas. I know many of you don’t think of Shangrila as being in Texas, but bear with me. A
Travels to Shangrila Read More »
The amazing hardy banana, Musa velutina is full of flowers and fruit in the garden. Here are photos I just took of it in both bud and in full fruit. There are so many fruit, you’ll see pink from several hundred feet away…very attractive. The bananas are full of small seeds, so we don’t recommend
Musa velutina – pink velvet banana Read More »
Although many folks only know us for our commercial division, Plant Delights Nursery, it is our research division, Juniper Level Botanic Garden that is the most important. Our collections now top 22,000 taxa, making JLBG one of the most significant plant collections in the country. We spent last Friday with Dr. Jenny Xiang of NC
Disjunct genera research Read More »
If you’ve ever tried to move a Sabal minor (scrub palmetto palm), you probably failed. Once they pass the seedling stage, they cannot be moved since they develop a very deep subterranean trunk that extends up to 5′ deep. Not only that, but roots that are cut do not regenerated like most other plants. Today,
Sabal sp. Tamaulipas on the move Read More »
In flower today are the lovely oxblood lilies, Rhodophiala bifida. This Argentine native bulb emerges seemingly overnight without foliage. The 1′ tall stalks are topped with bright red, out-facing flowers…first cousin to hippeastrum (mistakenly known as amaryllis). About a month after rhodophialas finish flowerering, the winter growing leaves emerge and remain throughout the winter. Rhodophiala
Rhodophiala bifida – Oxblood Lily Read More »
I’ve long enjoyed pineapple lilies, but Eucomis autumnalis ‘Naude’s Neck‘ has to be one of my favorites. Why, you ask…since it has no colored leaves or spotted foliage? Most pineapple lily flower stalks tend to fall over after flowering due to the weight of the developing seed, but not Eucomis ‘Naude’s Neck’. These flower spikes
Eucomis ‘Naude’s Neck’ pineapple lily Read More »
Looking great in the garden now is a personal favorite, Gaillardia ‘Grape Sensation’. This Stephen F. Austin State University Arboretum selection of the Texas native is not only a huge color break from typical gaillardia, but it the best performing and longest-lived blanket flower that we’ve every trialed. Good drainage and plenty of sun are
Gaillardia ‘Grape Sensation’ Read More »
I could sit and watch pitcher plants all day as prospective food is constantly lured into the waiting pitchers. Here’s the latest victim this week…a wasp, unaware that he’s the next meal for this hungry Sarracenia flava. Pitcher plants are quite easy to grow, both in the ground and in containers. In pots, we grow
Sarracenia flava pitcher plant – “Feed me” Read More »
Just heard back from Bill McNamara, director of the Quarryhill Botanical Garden in California’s Napa wine country, and the garden came through the earthquake in good shape with only a few books shaken off the shelves. Thank goodness, since this is one of the most amazing collections of Asian plants in the country. I’m sure
Earthquake News from CA Read More »
