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November Perennial of the Month-Reed Grass
It’s the time of year when our gardening design focus changes from flowers and succession of blooms to winter interest that will have to last for the next four to five months. (Insert…
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October Perennial of the Month-Anemone
One of the most popular perennials for late season are anemones (Anemone spp., hybrids, and cvs.) or windflowers. Often called Japanese anemones, this perennial usually comes in pink or white blooms that seem…
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September Shrub of the Month-Doublefile Viburnum
It’s the time of year when flowers give way to berries that welcome the change of seasons. Some of the showiest berry-producing shrubs are the viburnums, and my favorite viburnum for flowers in…
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September Perennial of the Month-Trumpet Creeper
Do you know that scene in horror movies where the crazy vines grab the main character’s ankles and drag him, kicking and screaming, out of sight? I’m convinced those vines were based on…
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Perennial of the Month-Purple coneflower
With a rainbow of colors available, my favorite coneflower is still the straight species, Echinacea purpurea. Purple coneflower is among our area’s top perennials, regardless of whether you are into natives or ornamentals. Native coneflowers…
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October Perennial of the Month-Stonecrop
Oh, the joys of Autumn Joy sedum. There is a reason this cultivar has been around for so long. It’s tough. long-lived, and it performs in fall, giving our late-season gardens a very…
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September Perennial of the Month-Rattlesnake master
The common name, rattlesnake master, supposedly comes from the medicinal properties of Eryngium yuccifolium to cure snake bites. One must wonder just exactly what had to happen for the folks back then to…
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September Shrub of the Month-Blue mist shrub
It’s the type of shrub you see in a magazine or catalog and want to try immediately. With a coveted blue color rarely found in the garden, let alone in a late-season bloomer,…
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September Tree of the Month-Persimmon
After one or two cooler mornings, everyone starts talking about winter. Will it be cold? Will there be snow? Despite climate change that has turned our seasons inside out lately, you can count…
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August Shrub of the Month-Smoke bush
To be, or not to be…a shrub or a tree? Well, in the plant world, there is a lot of gray area between what makes a tree a “tree” versus a “shrub”. RHS…
