Old Man’s Beard Clematis virginiana For those of you who are native plant enthusiasts there is a native version of Clematis terniflora. It is Clematis virginiana or virgin’s bower, also known as old man’s beard. This whimsical common name comes from the fluffy white seed pods that form in in the fall.  This plant...

    Is your garden well weeded, thoroughly mulched and nary a plant that does not have a tag with its proper name inscribed upon it? You don’t know what you are missing!  I looked out the window last week and saw that a 6 foot azalea bush had suddenly sprouted numerous panicles of white...

    Monarda punctata L. Spotted bee balm, horsemint or Monarda punctata L. call it what you will but by any name it in an interesting addition to the garden. I picked mine up as a seedling at the Shaver’s Creek native plant sale. I wasn’t really expecting to see it this year as it...

    A new plant has come to my attention and I have 50 seeds. Perhaps it isn’t so new as it is a native wildflower found from South Central Washington to Baja California. As an ornamental however it seems to be more popular in Europe than it is in the US. The seeds are...

  The Perennial Plant Association takes it upon itself to choose a plant each year that they designate as the Perennial {Plant of the Year. These are not finicky hybrids. Those that are hybrids like   Helleborus × hybridus (hellebores) are often natural hybrids and nature has bred out the weaker traits.    Generally, it is possible...