Although we haven’t yet had a killing frost, lower temperatures and shorter days are affecting our gardens and neighborhood for sure. The leaves on nearby oak trees are turning a bright orange and their acorns are all over the street and driveways. Our Dogwood trees (Cornus Kousa) are also turning, and their beautiful bright-red berries … Continue reading Savor the Season →

This summer’s unusually high temperatures, following months of below-normal rainfall, have resulted in significant drought areas in the Greater Boston Area and beyond. Although we’ve not wanted to waste water on our so-called lawn, we’ve tried to keep our gardens watered, especially those where some of our “special trees” are growing-such as the Kousa dogwood … Continue reading The Late-Summer Garden →

Daylilies belong to the genus Hemerocallis, but they are not true lilies. This Greek word is made up of two parts: ‘hemera’ meaning day and ‘kallos’ meaning beauty. The name is appropriate, since each flower lasts only one day. There are more than 35,000 registered daylily cultivated varieties (cultivars). They are among the most carefree … Continue reading Daylilies Dazzle →

At this time of the year there are so many beautiful flowers in bloom in our garden. They draw butterflies and other beneficial pollinators to the borders. Perennials include the daylilies, Japanese irises, hostas, daisies, and balloon flowers. Among the bushes and shrubs are roses, spireas, and viburnums. Plus, I mustn’t forget the annuals like … Continue reading Blue Endless Summer Hydrangea Blossoms →

I’ve always loved Japanese Kousa dogwood trees (Cornus kousa), especially their white (and sometimes pinkish) flowers. Well, it turns out that their blooms are not really flowers after all! The four showy dogwood flower petals aren’t actually “petals” as botanists define them. The spectacular white pointed beauties are “bracts,” which are modified leaves that look … Continue reading Kousa Dogwood Tree Blossoms →

A self-seeded “biennial” Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea), bearing several tall spikes of pink tubular blossoms, grows next to a Knock Out Rose. After blooming, the stalks are pruned off and left to dry in the garden shed until the pods ripen. Filled with tiny seeds, the pods will be strewn here and there all over the … Continue reading A Self-Seeded “Biennial” Foxglove →

The June garden does not disappoint. Especially pretty are the purple and white bearded irises, the blue false indigo (Baptisia australis), the spikes of common foxgloves (Digitalis purpurea), clematis vines, the white Kousa dogwood flowers, and the pink climbing roses (Zephirine Drouhin), to name a few. Foxgloves are biennials that seed themselves all over: in … Continue reading June Garden Forward to Summer →

It seems that everywhere we look in our gardens there’s lots of plant colors to enjoy: red, pink and white azaleas, pink rhododendrons, early white dogwoods, pink bleeding hearts, white Deutzia gracilis, creeping phlox, Virginia bluebells, and variegated Solomon’s seal, to name a few. Even the emerging leaves of different hostas and irises add to … Continue reading Garden Colors Delight →

In addition to “the waking up of our gardens,” via hundreds of emerging plants and colorful blossoms, there is much to celebrate in April. April is known as both National Garden Month and National Orchid Month. Then, there are the official celebrations: Earth Day, Arbor Day, and even National Dandelion Day (who knew?). In fact, … Continue reading Waking Gardens →