Jun 13, 20192 minThree Terrific Native Subs for IvyRemoving invasive plants is an easy place to start if you are interested in gardening for the Chesapeake. English ivy (Hedera helix) is...
May 30, 20191 min5 Super Self Sowing Chesapeake NativesLooking for free plants? These perennials self sow. Garden writers talk about ‘polite’ and ‘aggressive’ self sowers. These are nice...
May 9, 20192 min4 Top Natives for a Chesapeake Shady Side GardenTurning a narrow unused space into a soothing shady stroll Last week, a good friend in Baltimore who is quite the DIYer asked whether...
Apr 25, 20191 minHoneysuckle Vine: Plant This or ThatNative honeysuckle (Lonicera sempivirens) is a star of Chesapeake native plants. First, it is literally a hummingbird magnet. Second, new...
Apr 11, 20191 minSiberian Bugloss: Plant This or ThatBlue is a favorite early spring bloom color, whether it be Siberian bugloss (Brunnera macrophylla), a favorite perennial at the top of...
Mar 19, 20191 minPansies: Plant This or ThatMarch in Chesapeake country means pansies at markets, nurseries, and grocery stores. Pansies were my grandmother’s favorite so I am...
Mar 12, 20191 minPlant This or That: DaffodilsDare I say it … there is a native alternative to the daffodil (Narcissus)! Yes, I know, I tread on dangerous ground now …lol. But,...
Mar 5, 20191 minTop 5 Favorite Chesapeake Native Spring SignalsAround early March, the fever begins across the Chesapeake region. Random people mention in hushed, and not so hushed, tones “I’m really...
Feb 26, 20191 minForsythia: Plant This or ThatForsythia announces spring like no other plant. Some love it; some not so much. Whichever camp you may be in, there is a super native...
Feb 12, 20191 minServiceberry: Plant This or ThatLooking for a small sun or shade tree that does it all? Native serviceberry (Amelanchier canadensis) is a fantastic choice. Serviceberry...
Jan 1, 20191 minMagnolia: Plant This or ThatMagnolias are, indeed, magnificent. Fragrant blooms are literally frisbee size on some. On others, beautiful yellow or magenta flowers...
Dec 18, 20182 minDogwoods: Plant This or ThatNative dogwood (Cornus florida) trees have it all: graceful, yet architectural, flowers unfurling as temperatures warm, seen above, an...
Jul 20, 20181 minAzaleas: Plant This or ThatIn the mid-Atlantic, azaleas amaze every spring. Did you know that in addition to bright fuchsias, above on the left, and the pinks and...
Jul 20, 20181 minWisteria: Plant This or ThatChinese and Japanese wisterias (Wisteria sinensis and floribunda) are long time mid-Atlantic favorites. While the drape of the lavender...