When I look at my favorite design blogs this time of year I’m overwhelmed with the number of gift guides offering recommendations on candles, decorations, furniture etc. And as an avid gardener I know that there are several tools that I regularly recommend to others. So, if you’re shopping for the perfect gift for a gardener here are my recommendations.
Kobalt Battery Operated Blower
Continue reading November: Gifts for Gardeners – My Recommendations
While growing up on the East Coast, autumn became my favorite season. As a landscape designer, I like to create seasonal interest that highlights the fall color change in NC. Read on to learn about some fun fall color combinations.
Spiraea and Loropetalum
As we wind down from summer and get ready for fall it’s important to remember that this is also a time of change for our plants. Deciduous shrubs and trees will show their fall color, evergreens may shed, and perennials will start to die back. For my clients who are new to gardening this can be a confusing time. It’s not unusual for me to hear from clients that one of their plants is dead, when in fact it is just entering dormancy. Read on to learn more.
Evergreens
Continue reading September: Dead vs. Dormant – How to Tell the Difference
If you’re familiar with the Mimosa Tree (Albizia julibrissin), then you might be interested in my love hate relationship with this plant. Read on to learn why I keep my Mimosa tree for the time being.
Mimosa Tree (Albizia julibrissin)
Continue reading My Love and Hate Relationship with the Mimosa Tree
One of the best features of my house is the big screened in porch in my backyard. Except for the coldest months of the year my family – including our cats – love to spend time here. When we moved in almost 10 years ago I was excited to add plants to the space, but quickly realized that not all plants work well in this environment. Though my porch is on the south side of the house it is actually quite shady, making most flowering plants not an option. Additionally, I am notoriously bad at watering my containers, so my plants need to be highly drought tolerant. Read on to learn about some evergreen perennials that have worked great for my space for several years.
Aspidistra elatior
Continue reading Selecting Plants for a Porch – My Strategy and Recommendations
I spend a lot of time observing the wildlife in my yard. In 2015, my sister suggested I try to certify my garden as a wildlife habitat. Read on to learn about the four elements to a wildlife habitat and how to become certified.
NC Wildlife Federation Certified Wildlife Habitat Certificate and Sign 
Continue reading How to Certify Your Wildlife Habitat
After working as a landscape designer for almost ten years I’ve learned that all gardens, no matter how big or small, need four elements of interest: Foliage, Fragrance, Flowering, and Fall Color. Read on to learn how to combine these elements in your garden.
Foliage – Loropetalum ‘Purple Pixie’ and Osmanthus ‘Goshiki’
Continue reading 4 F’s Every Garden Needs: Foliage, Fragrance, Flowering, Fall Color
After living in my house for 10 years, I decided to do a yard renovation. I removed the existing foundation plants and completed a new landscape design. Read on to learn about some of the plants I chose.
Cotinus coggygria ‘Royal Purple’ Fall Color
I chose a variety of plants for the purple foliage. Loropetalum ‘Daruma’, Distylium ‘Cinnamon Girl’, and Cotinus coggygria ‘Royal Purple’ all have seasonal shades of purple in their leaves. I created a cohesive design by repeating these colors throughout the garden. Continue reading Plants in My New Landscape Design
I grew up working with my Grandmother in her garden in Virginia. She had grown up on a tobacco farm in Tennessee and had an amazing capacity for yard work. The two of us planted hundreds of daffodils – in her opinion they were the best bulb – deer resistant, perennial, and no maintenance. Over the years I’ve planted hundreds more daffodils – both for myself and our clients, during the fall. However, I don’t have much experience with bulbs that you plant in the spring. I decided it was time to learn about these plants – read on to learn more.
Hedychium sp.
Last fall, I was sitting around the kitchen table having tea with my sister. We decided to take a tour of my garden and identify plants that I can make tea from. Read on to learn about which plants I plan to use for tea.
Camellia sinensis (Fall Blooming Camellia) and Dried Tea Leaves
The first plant that jumped out was one of my Camellias. Camellia sinensis leaves and leaf buds are a nice choice for homemade tea. If you like Oolong tea, try making this.
