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December Tree of the Month-Japanese Cedar
Remember that one handsome boy back in high school? You know the type: great hair and smile. Drove a Mustang. Snappy dresser, outgoing, personable … surrounded by friends and admirers. Most likely, he…
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December Shrub of the Month-Dwarf Japanese Cedar
It’s unique, evergreen, slow-growing, low-maintenance, and, to top it all off, cute. Are you tired of the cookie-cutter evergreens around your foundation? You know those shrubs, the standard yews or boxwoods, perhaps a…
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December Perennial of the Month-English Ivy
The Holly and the Ivy Christmas carol seems to be a bit one-sided in the lyrics. It’s more about the holly, who, according to the lyrics, “…of all the trees that are in…
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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 Tree of the Month-Hardy Orange
My Aunt Grace and Uncle Ab lived in Burbank, California, with a tiny walled garden behind their bungalow. Their two most prized plants in that garden were a lemon tree and an orange…
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September Tree of the Month-Alder
And the winner for the cutest cone category is … the Alder tree! Face it, the cones are cute. And if you are into fall or holiday crafts, this is your new favorite…
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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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July Tree of the Month-Kentucky Coffee Tree
The Kentucky coffee tree (Gymnocladus dioicus) is considered rare by conservation standards regarding its native distribution. Although rare in the wild, as a domesticated species, it’s becoming more popular in parks, public gardens,…
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July Shrub of the Month-Annabelle Hydrangea
The smooth hydrangea cultivar ‘Annabelle’ was not named after one lady but two. Two “Belles” from Anna, Illinois, Harriet Kirkpatrick and her daughter Amy, found the original plant while horseback riding (We will…
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July Perennial of the Month-Blazing star
Surely, Dr. Suess was inspired by our native Liatris species, commonly called blazing star or gayfeather. The purple flowerheads are comprised of multiple flowers called florets, crammed together on one stem, each resembling…
