When I find a genus of perennials that does well for me, I tend to latch onto it — perhaps obsessively so — experimenting with different species and cultivars in that genus. Cranesbills, now more commonly referred to by their genus name Geranium, have played an important, albeit supporting, role in my gardens for many years. There are a huge number of perennial geranium … [Read more...] about Geraniums: workhorses in the garden
Geraniums
How to make kokedama
From the Hanging Gardens of Babylon in 600 BC to Boston ferns suspended in baskets more recently, plants have been given an elevated status by gardeners for years. Moss balls, taking inspiration from the Japanese aesthetic of minimalism, offer a different, distinctive take on hanging plants. Also called Japanese string art, or kokedama, the project comprises a plant encased … [Read more...] about How to make kokedama
Ivy geraniums for containers
Plants that offer both attractive flowers and foliage are the first to go into my nursery shopping cart. Ivy geraniums (Pelargonium peltatum), tender perennials native to southern Africa, never disappoint in this regard. Their semi-cascading, trailing habit is always attractive, and I enjoy their surprising differences in style and flower form, and crisp, ivy-like … [Read more...] about Ivy geraniums for containers
Plants struggling with the heat
It’s hot as Hades (again!), and I frequently need to remind myself that this is early July, not August. Plants are struggling to stand in the heat and wind — or perhaps I could say that I’m the one struggling to keep them going. Strong sunlight has made beds by the front walkway inhospitable for plants like Durand’s clematis (Clematis x durandii, Zone 6) that bleaches to … [Read more...] about Plants struggling with the heat
Browsing the seed catalogues for new finds
Seed catalogues are arriving and they provide the impetus for every kind of wish fulfillment. For instance, the dreamy heads of ‘Lilac Candy Floss’ poppy (Papaver somniferum ‘Lilac Candy Floss’) are densely packed with lilac-mauve petals arranged to look like peonies, and are followed by intriguing seedheads. If you enjoy fancy pelargoniums (also referred to as geraniums), … [Read more...] about Browsing the seed catalogues for new finds
