If you like tough perennials, Coreopsis is all that and more! This genus is known for its vigorous daisy flowers: they are bright, cheery and either shades of yellow or red. The species, Coreopsis verticillata – (a.k.a Threadleaf coreopsis) pictured here, is an excellent choice for the sunny garden.
Bay Area California, Spring Wildflowers, Tennessee Valley Hike
Don’t miss it. The 2018 spring wildflowers are out and they are a lot of fun to spot. The other day I enjoyed a Marin headlands hike cruising up some trails in Tennessee Valley. I was pleasantly surprised to find over 12 different wildflowers, a few I still have no idea what they are. If you like discovering wildflowers and hiking here’s a photo illustration of my recent findings.
Mop-Head Hydrangeas: 5 of the Best for Summer Blooms!
One of the best plants for summer flowers is the hydrangea. This plant has about 23 species of shrubs, climbers and small trees, and are largely natives of 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…
Tree Spotlight: Crataegus laevigata ‘Paul’s Scarlet’ – Paul’s Scarlet English Hawthorn
The scale of this tree is perfect for a small garden and here it is growing as a street tree, facing south, receiving the full sun it loves! Crataegus laevigata ‘Paul’s Scarlet’ is a round headed deciduous tree.
Spotlight on Crassula Multicava (Fairy Crassula)
Here’s an incredibly gorgeous and useful ground cover that will definitely make your friends and neighbors jealous when it’s in flower! Crassula multicava belongs on a short list of best succulents to use especially where other sun-loving ground covers won’t grow.
Spotlight: Flowering Cherry Trees and Why they Made our Tree List!
SPRING is showtime for the blooming flowering cherries. These trees have a powerful impact on people when they’re in bloom, more so than I’ve seen with any other flowering tree! Last week I had to wait my turn to get some “one on one time” (and photos) with the cherries, swarms of people were doing the same!
Center Stage with Lavender Fields in the Garden
Oh no not again. It’s that time of summer when my horticultural leanings get swayed towards a favorite plant, and for the week of July 4th, it’s lavender. Are you a lavender-lover too? It’s definitely a perennial/shrub/herb to get behind, especially because you can treat SOME lavender species as a perennial in zones that go well below freezing.
Plant Spotlight: Cool Spurge (Euphorbia) for Low Water Garden Design
Spurge, otherwise known as Euphorbia, is that cool plant you can have just one of or you can get the bug and try out several species. The ones on spotlight here are some of the most popular shrub and ground cover types readily available to buy.
Plant Spotlight: Why Pink Cigar Plant (Cuphea cyanea) is Amazing
This little pink cigar plant (Cuphea cyanea) is cute as can be. My Iphone 5 did an okay job getting some photos in the harsh afternoon light. What drew my to this plant, located in a Sausalito, California garden, was walking by and noting a drift of color…
Plant Spotlight: Carrot Family Umbels, Cut Flowers & Queen Anne’s Lace
A flower that looks like an Umbrella…really? Yup. If you’ve passed these by before, these cool flat flower heads make excellent cut flowers and last quite a long time in a vase. The umbel flower to the left is the very delicate looking Queen Anne’s Lace. I really love the way it looks all by itself in a vase.
