Viewing comments posted by chelle

Bush Honeysuckle Amur (Lonicera maackii) is listed as an invasive plant. It shades and crowds out native plants that would provide higher protein food sources for wildlife.

If you have the space, Miscanthus x giganteus is a wonderful addition to your songbird habitat areas! The extremely tall, thick, and lush vegetation provides safe haven from predators and the dried early-spring leaf tips are favored by many a feathered nest builder.

This plant is deer-resistant.

The leaves are sharp on the edges, so handle with care.

The only way we've ever seen a clump killed (in fifteen years of growing it), is by cutting it back to ground level.
Leave about 6" of growth when trimming it back in the Spring. Loppers are recommended for this task.

This variety is sterile, therefore it's listed as a non-invasive plant.

Note: Coronilla is listed as an invasive plant in some areas.

The thorns on this plant can grow over 20cm long! I didn't measure these while I was out in the field, but I can tell you, they are imposing! It's been said that in the past these were occasionally used as a substitute for nails. I can believe it!

The branch structure on these plants is non-uniform and rather untidy. One individual (main) branch can be quite long, while another may be just a bit over stub length. This trait is most apparent in younger trees.

Do not open your banana melon until it turns fully golden-yellow! I ruined the first fruit of my crop because I got impatient to try one and cut it too soon! It was the biggest one too: weighing in at a hefty 12 pounds.

A bit astringent if not fully ripe, wonderful when it is! A really mild blend of muskmelon and peach flavors.

If you're looking for a knock-your-socks-off scented rose, and you have room for a climber, this is one that should be on your list! In my opinion, its scent is best described as a blend between jasmine and honeysuckle. Lovely.

This is now one of my favorite plants!

From my first year observations: It needs no special care, no extra water, is bug and disease free, and to top it all off -- it never seems to have an *off* day. The new flowers are borne above the old, so as the earlier blooms fade and begin to set seed, they're covered and hidden by the upper new growth. They need no dead-heading for beauty's sake. I've not even seen a brown leaf. How does it do it?

Definitely a *thumbs-up* in my gardens!