Viewing comments posted by chelle

This super fast and easy to grow edible is a deliciously pungent addition to any mixed veggies dish. This plant is, however, definitely one to enjoy before it flowers; after bud-set the plant exudes a musty scent and has an unappealing flavor.

Garden Cress might be a good choice for sprouting on a well-lit windowsill during a long, cold winter.

Own-root, third or fourth year plant gaining reasonably in stature and bloom count each year. Growing and blooming here in about two-thirds shade, and doing remarkably well in competition with other plants and shrubs.

Very easy to grow; blooms almost continuously here without fuss, and has a wonderful scent.

Very pleasant fragrance.

Heat and drought tough! These weren't re-potted after purchase. I thought, surely they would die hanging in the 100+ degree hot air tunnel of our driveway; surprisingly enough, they came through it just fine.

Very deep color tones in the blooms of this plant - very nice! Fairly compact, nicely branched and drought tolerant. This transplant survived two months of no rain, in full sun, with very little supplemental water.

This plant seems a bit weak-stemmed and flops in part-sun conditions.

Not only does this lily have a huge presence and that wow impact in the garden, it's also very vigorous and tolerant of extremes. My plants suffered heavy frost damage this spring, grew on up through the damaged areas, suffered through high temperatures and severe drought, and still put on a magnificent display! I'll definitely be adding more of these fine plants to my gardens.

This plant's blooms nod downward, so it would be easier to fully appreciate it if it were grown on an arbor. My 'Carmencita' blooms very well here with just a couple of hours worth of late afternoon sun.

River Birch (Betula nigra 'Heritage') is probably not a plant for everyone. It's a fast growing tree to fairly large proportions, and its branches are messy. They're prone to breakage under heavy snow and ice, and shed smaller sections regularly. Its seeds are fertile at maturity and germinate readily. This plant might best be placed in an area away from flowerbeds.

In a natural setting with moist soil, this tree is gorgeous and very easy to grow.

Attracts butterflies. Most sources suggest that this plant is a high protein wildlife and livestock forage. In addition, it's also a nitrogen fixing legume.

Illinois Bundleflower appears to be an easy plant to start from seed.

Preston Lilac (Syringa x prestoniae 'Donald Wyman') blooms two to three weeks later than most lilacs and will have a high bloom count even when planted in part-shade.
Although not the most sweetly fragrant of the lilacs in my gardens, this plant is continuously loaded with butterflies when it's in bloom! I've actually observed them sitting on an unopened bloom spike as if they're perfectly content to wait for buds to open, while appearing to be totally oblivious to anything else in bloom. Hummingbirds arriving from southerly locales also stake an early claim on this shrub and will furiously safeguard it from others; sometimes even "protecting" it from me!

The blooms of German Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) are a dainty and lovely addition to the sunny garden. They will reseed themselves without becoming a nuisance, and the young plants are surprisingly hardy. New plants will generally appear in late summer to early fall and will remain green throughout winter, readying themselves to burst into bloom by late spring.

Chamomile plants in the garden attract beneficials such as hoverflies and parasitic wasps, which prey on harmful insect pests.

Chamomile flowers taken as a tea has been noted as an aid in relaxing tense muscles and in reducing the symptoms of stress, anxiety and exhaustion. It also has the beneficial action of balancing acidity in the body, reducing the symptoms of indigestion, colic and gastritis and aiding in the stimulation of a waning appetite. It can also be used externally as an anti-inflammatory, an aid in the symptomatic relief of eczema and as a soothing compress for tired eyes.

You might even try sharing a bit of Chamomile tea with your seedlings. Chamomile contains a concentrated source of sulfur which is a natural fungus fighter; thus, Chamomile tea has been reported to be an excellent preventative for damping-off disease in humid planting areas. Chamomile tea can also be used as a seed soak to remove naturally occurring seed coat fungus prior to planting.

Witchhazel is useful in a variety of ways. It typically flowers in late winter when other blooms are scarce, making it a good choice to clip and bring indoors where its blossoms of sweet perfume can be savored. Firmly established plants will readily regrow and replace snipped branches.

The distilled oil of Hamamelis vernalis is used as an ingredient in lotions and salves for pain relief, skin care, and hemorrhoid treatment. It's particularly well known for its antioxidant, radiation protective, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral properties.

Witchhazel is particularly useful as an understory shrub layer in naturalized wildlife areas, providing both food and shelter to birds and deer.

Hamamelis vernalis is shallow-rooted, preferring a moist planting site; and will easily tolerate a slow-draining and difficult area in the landscape. It will also grow in shade, though its blooms may prove to be fewer and lighter in color when planted in a shady site.

Catkin covered branches clipped from Salix caprea (French pussy willow), as well as S. matsudana 'Tortuosa' (corkscrew willow) can be utilized effectively in decorative floral arrangements. Seasonal shaping or rejuvenation of an overgrown pussy willow should be undertaken as soon as the vitality of the catkins decline. Shrubs in moisture retentive soil can easily accept a hard pruning of up to two-thirds of the plant at this time; without sacrificing next years catkin display.

Salix caprea, as well as most varieties of willow, come equipped with invasive root systems, so be sure to plant your shrubs far away from septic tank fields, sewer lines and water lines. A low lying, slow draining problem area in your garden that discourages dry-land plants just might be the ideal spot for your "harbinger of spring".

I garden in alkaline soil. The first year I grew this plant I was fairly dedicated in getting the right amount of PH lowering amendments added to the soil around this plant; so, I had blue flowers. In following years, I forgot more often than not; so a lovely dusky rose is the color of the blooms on my "blue", 'Blue Billow' (];-)

I acquired this plant from a nursery a few years ago. I had originally intended to use it as an "interest" plant in my moist woodland garden; showcasing the very large leaves. At the time I wasn't aware that it is a host plant to the Vanessa cardui (Painted Lady) butterfly. This plant's leaves are decimated entirely by these winged beauties for most of the summer if the plant is placed out in the garden. This non-stop feeding frenzy skeletonizes the leaves , but doesn't appear to harm the growth, blooming capacity or longevity of the plant.The second year I had it I planted it in the dirt floor of my unheated greenhouse with much better results. I now have enough of the original plant that I have some in the GH, and some in an out-of-the-way spot in the gardens as a food source for the Painted Lady cats.

This plant is one tough Hombre! The summer temps inside the GH are very hot (surpassing 120 degrees Fahrenheit), the (established) plant gets no additional water from me, and still it manages to survive. It appears to be on some of the endangered species lists for our area. I'm not sure why, unless it's due to the draining of swamplands and moist meadow-lands for other purposes.

This rose struggles mightily in my organic gardens. It is the most delectable rose plant that I have to any and all leaf chewing insects. As a result, it never seems to have any leaf surface. I actually thought it was gone for good this summer; but it came back. Poor thing probably won't make it here because I happily refuse to apply chemicals and therefore disrupt the natural balance in my gardens:-)

Species native to Indiana, and to all eastern US states, with the exception of most of the state of Florida.

This species may be susceptible to Green Ash Borer.


*When planting any full-sized Ash as a shade tree, do not place it less than forty feet from your foundation! This species will mature to massive proportions, with a very wide and broadening branch structure. At maturity some branches become rather spongy and branch drop is common, most notably subsequent to a heavy rainfall.

If you're looking for a good shade tree and are considering an Ash, this is a good one. 'Northern Treasure' is fruitless so there's no messy seed drop, and it's highly resistant to the Emerald Ash Borer.

*When planting any full-sized Ash as a shade tree, do not place it less than forty feet from your foundation! This species will mature to massive proportions, with a very wide and broadening branch structure. At maturity some branches become rather spongy and branch drop is common, most notably subsequent to a heavy rainfall.