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October Tree of the Month-Hickory
Autumn is one of the most anticipated seasons for St. Louisans. The weather changes from sweltering to sensational, plenty of festivities and events are happening around town, and of course, the changing of…
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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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August Tree of the Month-River birch
We talk a lot about “well-drained” soils regarding plant preferences. But one tree that LOVES wet conditions is our native river birch-Betula nigra. River birch gets its common name from its natural habitat along…
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February Shrub of the Month-Junipers
Juniperus spp. By February, we are all craving color, ANY color. There’s still a long way to go before most gardens explode into yummy yellows and passionate purples. One of the best ways…
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February Tree of the Month-Taylor Juniper
Picture the rolling golden hills of an Italian landscape painting. You know, the kind with the sun-kissed stucco facades, olive trees, and the occasional cart pulled by a donkey. Now, what else do…
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A Winter Visit to the Garden of Mike Curran
The term ‘Plant Collector’ conjures up images of plants in tidy rows or planted in botanically segregated groups, all with official labels…you don’t think “Garden.” That is until you visit the garden of…
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January Perennial of the Month-Little bluestem
The doldrums of January have arrived. What if you could turn your Winter Blues to red? Or, more precisely, russet or orange? Little bluestem, Schizachyrium scoparium, is quite the chameleon, providing our gardens with a…
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January Shrub of the Month-Blue star juniper
I admit I’ve never been a big juniper fan. Junipers are spikey, get bagworms, and have been over-used in the landscape for decades. (Think parking lot islands and mid-century homes with overgrown landscaping!)…
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January Tree of the Month-Colorado blue spruce
Evergreens are the kings of ‘Winter Interest’, a term I often use because of its importance in the garden. Winters can be LONG. A third of the year in St. Louis gardens is…
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December Tree of the Month-American Holly
Can there be a more festive tree for the holiday season than the holly? Holly has been the stuff of legends and lore since Roman, druid, and pagan times. The red berries against…
