… × Citrofortunella mitis is commonly known as calamondin orange, and as the " × " in front of the genus name denotes, it is a hybrid between species in two different genera, an oddity in the plant world. Citrus reticulata (a tangerine) was crossed with Fortunella margarita (the …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… Their deep-green leaves are two-ranked—arising from the soil directly opposite one another in an alternating sequence. Because the leaves arch directly above one another, a mature plant … provides a perfect foil for its masses of trumpet-shaped flowers. Native to damp woodlands in southern Africa, the plant has a habitat that ranges from subtropical coastal forests to ravines in high-altitude forests, where they thrive in dappled shade and in well-drained, humus-rich …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… This round bulb grows to a height of 6 inches in full sun to partial shade and moderate moisture conditions. It has white blooms in March and April. It belongs in a border and is resistant to deer. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
… can influence their flavor and the color of their papery wrapping. Elephant garlic, found in stores and garden catalogs, is not a true garlic, but a type of bulbing leek. Snap off curly scapes in spring and use as you would use garlic cloves in your cooking. Hard-neck vs. Soft-neck Garlic generally falls into two categories: hard-neck …
Type: Plant Info
… The Snowflake Fairy Robed in white comes Snowflake Fairy, braving wintry winds and ice, pearly "Maid of February," whom the … frosts entice. Gladly welcome Snowflake Fairy, on your terrace give her room. She alone in February braves the cold to shed her bloom. —Elizabeth Gordon What can give us more hope … the first bulbs to bloom, snowdrops are not only beautiful, but easy to grow. Snowdrops are in the amaryllis family (Amaryllidaceae), and there are only a dozen cultivated species, mostly …
Type: Plant Info
… are many definitions for the word “zen.” It’s been described as “a state of calm attentiveness in which one's actions are guided by intuition rather than by conscious effort.” It may be … with practitioners of Zen Buddhism. The term “Zen garden” was first coined by Loraine Kuck, in her 1935 book “100 Gardens of Kyoto.” By the 1950s, the term became popular as a way for … and Europeans to describe the minimalistic rock-and-sand gardens found at Zen Buddhist temples in Japan. The correct term for this type of garden is karesansui, or dry garden. A Zen Garden is …
Type: Plant Info
… ). Large, dangling leaves give the plant a tropical look. But it’s the fruit—the largest in North America—that is most noteworthy with its almost indescribable flavor—a mix of banana, … at how delicious it tastes: Indiana banana, custard banana and American papaw. It’s been used in custards, ice cream, breads and smoothies. Because the ripe fruits bruise easily and are highly perishable, they seldom are sold in stores. “It was really part of the forest landscape in the 1500s. As explorers crossed and …
Type: Plant Info
… On September 1, we ring in the first day of meteorological fall. * Pumpkins, kale, scarecrows and Halloween decorations are in the stores, but don’t put away your trowel, shovel, hose or clippers just yet. Autumn is … trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals and fall-themed containers. Advantages of Fall Planting In spring, the soil is typically very cold and often soggy, but then air temperatures suddenly …
Type: Plant Info
… and working within a container’s constraints. Tip 1: Work with the proportions of the space. In the low-to-the-ground containers, no plant is taller than 12 inches, and most are in the 3- to 6-inch range. Keep heights low, but allow for a range—from creeping near the ground to a foot in height. Tip 2: Scale matters. Flowers are intentionally small in this mix, with tulips as the …
Type: Plant Info
… Lemon-yellow, well-formed petals with a slightly paler collar surround the dark golden stamens in the center. Plant this dahlia in full sun and in moderately moist and fertile soils; stake it to prevent wind damage. …
Type: Garden Guide Plant
