One of the most important diseases that gardeners need to be aware is Phytophthora (Fy-TOFF-thor-uh). Buying, transporting and planting of nursery stock puts the gardening trade into the triangle of helping to control the spread of this pathogen. Phytophthora species make up a group
With the sun finally here, the days are longer, the plants grow bigger and the weeds grow faster. I’ve been taking some time off to be with our daughters who have moved beyond the skirts of home. We just got back from Idaho, amazed by the openness, the light, and the abundant fields o
Nuda is known as one of the most adaptable plants as it is one of the most cold hardy varietuies of bamboo, with tolerance of temperatures down to minus 20 degrees. The new canes are a dark green, almost a black color in appearance with the nodal areas creating a ring effect due to a
It’s that time of year that adult root weevils appear in landscapes in our area. You can find these bugs on azaleas, primroses and other broadleaf ornamentals. Look for fresh evidence of feeding as evidenced by notching at leaf edges or stripped bark at the base of shrubs. You can spr
Wisteria floribunda, the Japanese wisteria, is a woody liana of the Wisteria family. It was brought from Japan to the United States in 1860 by George Rogers Hall. Since then, it has become one of the most highly romanticized flowering garden plants. It is also a common subject for bon
After the monsoon rains of the past few months, I took a breather last week and took a walk through my garden in one of the moments of fleeting sunshine. As I walked around the yard, I discovered that there was no longer a garden or what could be defined as a garden. It was a mass of
In the midst of May’s flowers, hail storms, wind, and sun, garden life slowly awoke and decided to chance sending out new tender green shoots and leaves. It’s a late spring for many things; the alder trees didn’t leave out till the beginning of the month, along with the vine maples an
What three words are synonymous with May in our coastal hamlet? Yes, you guessed: rain, wind, and rhododendrons. This is the month that we celebrate the incredible beauty and diversity of the Rhododendron family. Sometimes it is easy to feel that rhodies (as we so affectionately call
Do you have an indoor sun room or protected porch where you would like to have a large tropical plant to add more lushness to the décor? Bambusa multiplex ‘Alphonse Karr’ is a clumping sub-tropical species with beautiful multi colored stems that does great in containers on patios and