Category: Noteworthy Plant Spotlight Series
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3 Symbolic Lucky Plants to Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day
Saint Patrick’s Day is celebrated each year on March 17 and is associated with luck, good fortune, and an Irish spirit of joy. While shamrocks are the most iconic symbol of luck associated with this holiday, there are other flowers and plants that hold similar meanings of prosperity and good fortune across cultures. As we…
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Exploring 3 Native Species of Bee Balm: Monarda Didyma, Monarda Fistulosa, and Monarda Bradburiana
Bee balm, scientifically known as Monarda, is a genus of beautiful flowering plants native to North America. These plants are well-loved for their vibrant blooms, aromatic foliage, and ability to attract pollinators like bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Within the Monarda genus, three native species stand out: Monarda didyma, Monarda fistulosa, and Monarda bradburiana. Each has…
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5 Flowers That Are Symbols of Love and Romance
Flowers have long been used as symbols of love, affection, and deep emotion. Throughout history, different flowers have been tied to various feelings, often serving as a romantic gesture or a way to express the unspoken. From the petals of a rose to the sweet scent of a lily, each flower carries its own story…
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Native Plant Series: Eastern Redbud
Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis) is a North American native tree that is native to the Eastern region of the United states. Habit It is a small, deciduous, understory tree growing 20-30′ on average. They often grow in a multi-trunked fashion unless it is trained to have a single trunk. The canopy will form a rounded…
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Native Plant Series: Ironweed
Ironweed is a common name of 25 species of Vernonia which are native to North America. Many of these species are native to the midwest and southeastern regions. Some species are as short as 2′ tall, while others can reach 10′ tall! It is an upright plant with tough stems, in which it is named…
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Native Plant Series: Blue Flag Iris
Blue Flag (Iris versicolor) is a native perennial iris to the North Eastern United States and Canada. It is naturally found in wetland areas, marshes, and wet meadows. It likes moisture, so it can be planted in wet/moist sunny areas in a home garden or on the edge of a pond up to 6″ deep.…
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Native Plant Series: Mountain Mints
Today is national Honey Bee Day! Honey bees are not native to the America’s, but they provide a great resource to us; honey, propolis, beeswax, and royal jelly. They also help pollinate food and flowers! In my garden, I don’t see honey bees too often. However, this is the first year I’ve had mountain mint…
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Native Plant Series: Native Asters
It’s getting to the time of the year here in Central Kentucky where many summer perennials are dwindling. The purple coneflowers and blazing stars are nearly done flowering in my yard. However, I know there is still some perennial color yet to look forward to, as the days get shorter and temperatures begin to drop.…
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Native Plant Series: Witchhazel
On the list of winter flowering shrubs, is witch-hazel (Hamamelis sp.). In the US we have two native witch hazels, Hamamelis virginiana and Hamamelis vernalis. Virginiana starts flowering in October to November. Vernalis flowers later starting in December. Vernalis also holds onto its leaves. My witch hazel shown in the photo is vernalis. This photo was taken…
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Native Plant Series: Butterfly Milkweed
Butterfly Milkweed has been listed as plant of the year 2017 by the Perennial Plant Association. I’m not surprised, this ‘weed’ is a beauty. Despite it’s name, it doesn’t act weedy in the garden, so don’t be afraid to add it to your landscape. It’s just starting to bloom here in Kentucky, with its orange…
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Plant Spotlight: Wintergold Mugo Pine
If you’re looking for some winter interest in your yard, evergreens are a great way to do so. It can be hard to find unique evergreens however! You can find unique evergreens at our local nurseries, but they often go fast and they are limited in quantity. Habit One of these evergreens is the Mugo…
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Native Plant Spotlight: Winterberry Holly
This spectacular shrub is a must in the winter garden. Winterberry is a native deciduous holly. This holly does not have the common prickly leaves, but are oval shaped and soft. After its leaves fall, this shrub becomes covered in these amazing red berries that makes it a show stopper. Only the female plants form these…
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Native Plant Spotlight: Poison Ivy Where to find it, how to remove it, how to take care of the rash
Study these photos well… These are photos of the poison ivy leaf. I am amazed at how many people don’t know what poison ivy looks like, and I wish to educate people! I see it everywhere, especially in any lesser maintained areas, even all around Fayette County. I’ve even had it in my own suburban…
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Native Plant Spotlight: Dicentra A Spring Blooming Ephemeral
In the spring we often see the plants commonly called Bleeding Hearts in our Kentucky landscape. The common ones we see at a lot plant nurseries are a type from China called, Lamprocapnos spectabilis, so they aren’t even in the genus Dicentra. However, there are a few types of Dicentra Bleeding Hearts native to Kentucky! The…
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Native Plant Series: Blazing Star (Liatris)
One of my favorite perennials is the Blazing Star, or commonly referred to as ‘Liatris’ as its latin name. It is also called Gay Feather as I’ve seen large nursery companies refer it to. There are a lot of varieties of Blazing Stars, about 30 total, but overall they have many similar characteristics. They are…
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Native Plant Series: Serviceberry
The Serviceberry is a beautiful flowering small tree or large shrub native to Kentucky and appear in other parts US. It is called serviceberry because about the time the fruit comes out, the waters of the creeks are warm enough to be baptized in. The genus Amelanchier, has several varieties. There is the Allegheny, Downy,…
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Native Plant Series: Pussy Willow (Salix discolor) A Spring Flowering Tree
Last summer I came across the Pussy Willow shrub somewhere among my research. I had always seen its stems put into floral arrangements (or even faux ones that light up!) but never really thought of it much as a plant. The native variety around Kentucky, and much of North America is Salix discolor. Of course different…
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Plant Series: Snowdrops A Blooming Winter Flower Bulb
Snowdrops are one of the earliest flowers to bloom in late winter or early spring, they can even bloom when there is snow on the ground! They are a sure sign spring is near. Snowdrops naturalize and begin blooming heavily after a year. They can be divided and planted in other areas of your garden.…