Passionate Gardeners

Non-Stop Gardening Tips & Inspiration

Plant Spot Light: Cordyline for Bold, Easy Architectural Effect!

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photo collage Cordyline plantingsC is for Cordylines. For the border or for containers, these architecturally bold plants are worth knowing – particularly if you live in Zones 9 – 11. One of the nice things about this genus is that the taller growing ones; Cordyline australis and its’many cultivars, make excellent palm-like trees, taking up little space in the small garden but giving you that exotic, tropical feel. Cordylines are evergreen shrubs and perennials in the Asparagus family and related to Yuccas and Agaves. One common name for Cordyline is Cabbage Palm and as you read this post you’ll come to see why. [Read more]

Small Garden: 11 Best Hedges for Screening and Privacy

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best small hedges for privacy and screeningOne of the best ways to get privacy from your neighbors, or to screen unwanted views is to plant a hedge. But which shrubs make the best screens? If you have a small garden, I’d like to steer you in a direction that cuts down your overwhelm:

Oh no, hundreds of plant to choose from!

No, not really. Especially when you’re looking for the best choice for a small space. [Read more]

Bay Area California, Spring Wildflowers, Tennessee Valley Hike

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dodecatheon hendersonii - ShootingstarsDon’t miss the 2018 SPRING WILDFLOWERS, they’re out now and a ton of fun to spot! The other day I photographed some bright, cheery ones while on few mile SPRING HIKE in Tennessee Valley’s Marin Headlands. (Bay Area, CA)

Wow, with over 12-different wildflowers – many I knew and some I didn’t I was delighted with my timing! [Read more]

Mass Planting for Impact, Hudson River Park, NYC

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Hudson River Park lawn and border plants, NYC

Taking a walk along the Hudson River in lower Manhattan on a beautiful New York summer day can’t be beat!

The expansive beauty with miles of path system is an extraordinary and delightful buffer from the city’s urban concrete jungle.  It’s amazing in all seasons. In this post I’m going to be focusing on the Hudson River Park’s Chelsea section. [Read more]

Mop-Head Hydrangeas: 5 of the Best for Summer Blooms!

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mop-head green hydrangeaOne of the best plants for summer flowers is the Hydrangea. This plant has about 23 species of shrubs, climbers and small trees, and is largely native to East Asia and both North and South America. In this post I’m going to be talking specifically about ‘the shrub Hydrangea with mop-headed flowers.’

You’re probably already familiar with the two different types of flowers, known as: mop-heads and lacecaps. [Read more]

Happy New Year and the Start to 365 Days of Gardening Opportunities!

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2018 a year for gardening opportunities! If you’re reading this today it’s January 1, 2018: Happy New Year, and I hope for you, a lovely start to 365 days of gardening opportunities. I’m thinking with a full year ahead of us, sky is the limit as to what can be done in your garden, it’s just mapping it out, and going for it.

To start, I want to plant a seed here, and it comes from these photos taken in San Francisco where a homeowner decided to dress their entrance with more than bows and greenery for the holidays, but to go for it also with an abundance of real citrus and fruit. [Read more]

What Makes Autumn Special in 9 Photos!

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dog in camper van enjoying view of nature

Do you have a favorite time of year? I do, and right now it's A U T U M N. Actually, I always get excited when the end of summer rolls in... It's just a matter of time before the leaves begin turning and the light changes. Plus, people's … [Read more]