Focus on Flowers

Many years ago, I bought a perennial plant at a nursery, and after I planted it, found that there was a ride-along plant in the pot.

There are few flowers like liatris in the flower world, as the blooms open on top of the stalks first, and the ones on the bottom open last.

Heuchera is the botanical name for coral bells .The one that is most frequently found in our gardens is Heuchera sanguinea -- tiny bell-shaped flowers on 15-inch stems dangle above mounds of deep green leaves. The flowers are bright red, which explains why “sanguinea,” which means blood red, is in the name.

Our native Eupatorium purpureum, commonly known as Joe Pye weed, flowers in late summer and fall, producing tall clusters of fluffy purple flowers. 

Ground cover plants are a bit like area rugs in our homes, as we can mix and match them or plant many of the same type of plant to cover bare patches.

In a cultivated garden, helenium looks best with other yellow or bronze flowers that bloom in the fall, and they light up a flower bed as the growing season draws to a close.

If you especially enjoy delicate, airy types of flowers, then you should grow Gaura to enjoy in your garden and in flower arrangements. 

Coreopsis is from the Greek word koris meaning bug and opsis meaning resemblance to. This is because the seeds of coreopsis took like small ticks. 

Farmers do not care for wild carrots that grow in their fields and on roadsides and produce thousands of seeds that produce more plants. 

Echinacea purpurea flowers well from mid-summer to early fall and combines well with most other flowering perennials. 

Vita Sackville West's white garden at Sissinghurst in England is world famous. Here is her own description of the plants in it.

Most of us enjoy watching the butterflies in our gardens, and it can be a magical experience for us and for our children. 

The botanical name for feverfew is Chrysanthemum parthenium because according to Plutarch a worker fell during the construction of the Greek parthenon, and his life was saved by this plant’s medicinal properties. The common name of feverfew is because it is used to reduce fevers. 

In 1995, the patents’ length of time was extended, so that now breeders can collect royalties on a plant for 20 years.

Today, I am quoting from Vita Sackville West who is discussing planting a border with flowers ranging in color from pale mauve through rich purple. 

Spring is a wonderful season for gardeners. The weather is pleasant outdoors and visiting nurseries is such fun, but as well as popping into the ground plants that will give immediate gratification, also try to plant some fall bloomers. 

We have all been guilty of shoving flowers into any type of vase when we are in a hurry. However, we all know as well that just a little bit of effort on our part will make even a few flowers look really special.

Scientists are concerned that the use of toxic pesticides and the decreasing amount of wild habitat may be affecting flower pollination. They studied wild pansies growing in fields across Europe that are generally pollinated by bees but can also use their own pollen to self-fertilize, using its own genes to produce new seeds, which is more limited than sexual reproduction that mixes DNA. 

All of May, cranesbill geranium 'Bevan' is covered in pink flowers, and the rest of the year, he has lovely fresh-looking green leaves.

A quote by Vita Sackville West about ground covers.

Dandelions light up our lawns each spring with bright yellow flowers.

Before the invention of photography, illustrations of uncommon plants were crucial. Women were thought to be especially well suited for drawing specimens accurately. They were seen as patient, careful, and willing to work for little pay.

During the Middle Ages in Britain, the monasteries were the places with the space and the knowledge to garden.

Most gardeners I know find it convenient to buy this easy-care annual for their pots and shade beds each spring, and delight in growing such undemanding annuals.

The Cherry tree that Houseman wrote about in his poem is commonly known as bird cherry, which alas do not grow well for us in zone 6. A white tree that is a lovely substitute, however, is the white dogwood.