April 2011 - Growing With Plants

Spring Hellebores

April 25, 2011

I DECIDED TO PICK A SELECTION OF HELLEBORE FLOWERS, SO THAT I COULD APPRECIATE THEIR INDIVIDUALITY. IN THE GARDEN, THEY SOMETIMES LOOK SIMILAR, OR…

Forget Easter Lilies, consider the Pasque Flower

April 24, 2011

Violet Pulsatilla vulgaris, blooming in a rock wall which runs along the foundation of my greenhouse. Long before Easter Lilies became synonymous with Easter…

It came from Mars ( or Tibet )

April 23, 2011

The Tibetan Rhubarb, ( Rheum palmatum) has a most amazing emergence in the spring garden. Sure, it’s palmate leaves are impressive enough, once they…

Yellow Shrubs

April 23, 2011

The early flowering hardy Jasmine, Jasminum nudiflorum, it is marginally hardy here in Zone 5, since it is a zone 7 plant, it will…

Hiding Ugly

April 20, 2011

PETASITES JAPONICUS SSP. GIGANTEUS I am often asked about what the rest of the garden looks like, and if I could share some of…

Early Alpine Primroses

April 19, 2011

PRIMULA ALLIONII X ‘JOAN HUGHES’. IT LOOKS BIG, BUT USE THE SPRUCE NEEDLES FOR SCALE As many of you know, I adore alpine plants,…

Shopping at Mahoney’s Garden Center – the good and the bad

April 18, 2011

ONE OF A PAIR OF STUNNING TALL PLANTERS MANUFACTURED BY MAYNE, WHICH WE PURCHASED IN THE BOSTON AREA AT MAHONEY’S NURSERY IN WINCHESTER, MA….

Two rarities currently in bloom

April 18, 2011

Here is a Daphne most people rarely see, even in collections. Rarely seen in gardens except in those of collectors, is Daphne calcicola, a…

Growing Belgian Endive, Scorzonera and Salsify

April 16, 2011

SOWING OLD-FASHIONED ROOT VEGETABLES ON THIS COLD AND BLUSTERY DAY. Often referred to as luxury vegetables, the chicons of Belgian endive, and the long…

In the greenhouse – the last species Gladiolus

April 16, 2011

GLADIOLUS ALATUS The last of my winter-rainfall ( i.e. winter greenhouse growing) Gladiolus species are blooming now, and it seems as if the best…