… people. Her house in the Hudson Valley was full of exotic tropicals and orchids that she cared for meticulously. And yet she was always ready to give them away when anyone showed an interest in one, which for me was every visit. She would carefully divide an established plant that she had nurtured for decades, wrap up …
Type: Blog
… the most common." How to identify poison ivy Poison ivy takes many forms, so it is important for hikers, gardeners, and anyone who enjoys the outdoors to become familiar with its … trees, telephone poles, or even buildings in more rural areas. Urushiol, the resin responsible for producing allergic reactions in people, is present in every part of the plant. Rashes can …
Type: Blog
… to Panama, where the subspecies rosea is found. The flower spikes can produce flowers for up to three months, and each of the flowers smells like chocolate. This species requires very … by genus and is consistent with their natural habitat. While requiring adequate sunlight for a stunning bloom display, most orchids will not tolerate sustained direct sun. Many varieties …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… from Brassovola , Cattleya , Laelia , and Sophronitis . These varieties seem well suited for home culture, due to hybridization and their small size. It can easily be imagined that a … by genus and is consistent with their natural habitat. While requiring adequate sunlight for a stunning bloom display, most orchids will not tolerate sustained direct sun. Many varieties …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… , the stark white trunks of native sweet birch (Betula lenta) stand out on overcast days. Look for paperbark maples (Acer griseum) and Peking lilacs (Syringa pekinensis) and discover the … cedar (Thuja plicata) has dark green, scale-like leaves that are aromatic when crushed. Look for the delicate brown cones near the tips of the branches. The deeply furrowed bark of dawn … be cut back in early spring. So grab your coat, hat, gloves, and scarf and come out for a visit. There’s much to see. Written by Nina Koziol, garden writer and horticulturist who lives …
Type: Plant Info
Native to open, semi-forested areas of Central America, firespike bush ( Odontonema strictum ‘Panama Purple’) is a showy tropical shrub with sparse, stiff branches that grow straight up to about 6 feet. It has glossy, dark-green leaves with wavy margins and long, pointed tips. The 4- to 6-inch long oblong leaves are arranged opposite each other along the stem. In summer through winter, firespike …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… prefer? Shake, rattle—and grow? The idea that music can help plants grow has been studied for decades, with classical music usually winning. Spotify begs to differ. The music streaming service released its Hardcore Gardening Playlist for Plants in May, inspired by research that claims plants grow better when exposed to the … hardcore rock. Wait, what? Actually, the jury is out as to whether metal is superior to Mozart for a plant-based audience. Plus, as the Garden’s Greenhouses staffers will attest, no music can …
Type: Blog
… this month, selectively prune branches from flowering trees and shrubs and bring them indoors for forced blooming. Most flowering plants can be successfully forced if they have had at least a six-week cold period. Even branches with only foliage can make interesting arrangements. For flowering plants, choose branches with plenty of fat flower buds. Prune carefully, using … color up, make final arrangements and bring into a cool room, out of direct sun. Good choices for forcing in January and February include serviceberry ( Amelanchier ), magnolia ( Magnolia ), …
Type: Plant Info
… If you’re a beginning gardener, it’s easy to be intimidated by where to start and how to care for plants. The Garden offers many resources to get you growing. Let’s dig in. Start Small Don’t … rubber plants, and ficus trees can be grown indoors and outside once the weather is warm. And, for first-time indoor gardeners, we have a plant story for you. Outdoors If you have a small … the existing garden or creating another one. We’re here to help. Take a class. Read a book. Visit the greenhouse. Watch a video. Nina Koziol is a garden writer and horticulturist who lives …
Type: Plant Info
… they relied on pawpaw fruits.” Explorers Lewis and Clark subsisted on pawpaws alone for three days during their explorations. Thomas Jefferson planted the trees at Monticello and … of butterflies and moths, including the pawpaw sphinx moth. And, it is the only host plant for the spectacular female Zebra Swallowtail butterfly, which will lay its eggs on the leaves. …
Type: Plant Info
