a forum for local gardeners to swap plants, exchange ideas, and discuss gardening techniques.
Sometimes plant names are confusing and, in that confusion, we overlook flowers that are real gems. Most gardeners are familiar with sweetalyssum (Lobularia maritima syn. Alyssum maritimum), Lobularia being the more modern nomenclature. This is the small flowered ground cover that comes in shades of white to light purple. It is an annual or very […]
Green flowers exert a certain fascination. Perhaps it is because they are rather rare in nature. The purpose of colorful flowers is to attract pollinators to insure the genetic continuation of the plant. Green flowers are not going to stand out against the green foliage and so are not going to gain much attention from […]
Gardeners who grow fruit, especially small fruits such as cherries, blueberries, blackberries, strawberries and raspberries, might be seeing a new invasive pest this summer. According to Penn State researchers the African fig fly (Zaprionus indianus Gupta) has been found in Adams, Clearfield Dauphin, and York Counties. The African fig fly entered the country through ports […]
A number of northern gardeners lost impatiens during the last growing season due to infected plants that were greenhouse grown or came in from the south. Typically impatiens (Impatiens walleriana) exhibited yellow leaves, which turned brown and dropped. Fuzzy, white patches were visible on the bottoms of the leaves before the leaves disappeared. Ultimately, the […]
Every year the Perennial Plant Association chooses a plant with outstanding characteristics upon which to bestow the title of Perennial Plant of the Year. The plants that are chosen share certain characteristics: •Suitable for a wide range of climatic conditions •Low maintenance •Pest and disease resistant •Readily available in the year of release •Multiple seasons […]