Palm trees (Arecaceae family)

Monthly Theme: Palm trees (Arecaceae family)

Aloha and greetings from Hawai’i! In March, I was fortunate enough to take a trip to Honolulu, O’ahu. I was so moved by the various palm trees that shaded and swayed above us on our trip. Consequently, this month, I decided to take a detour from our normal discussion about plants suitable for Northeastern Ohio to highlight a variety of palm trees found on the islands. I invite you to travel with me some 4,503 miles southwest (and yes, we flew on Southwest Airlines) to the tropical island of O’ahu and discover some of the most common palm trees thriving on O’ahu.

Gather Around the GardenYoga JudithApril 1, 2026Yoga JudithCuban oregano - MarchComment

Naked Ladies (Amaryllis belladonna)

MONTHLY THEME: Are there any NAKED LADIES in your yard? Now that I have your full attention, let’s talk about the plant called Naked ladies (Amaryllis belladonna)!

Gather Around the GardenYoga JudithFebruary 1, 2026Yoga JudithCuban oregano - MarchComment

Norfolk Island pine (Araucaria heterophylla)

MONTHLY THEME: Have yourself a very merry Norfolk Christmas! So, you say you don’t want a fake Christmas tree or cut down a real Christmas tree this year, how about a Norfolk Island pine evergreen houseplant?

Gather Around the GardenYoga JudithDecember 6, 2025Yoga JudithCuban oregano - MarchComment

Zodiac Flowers

MONTHLY THEME: What’s your sign?

How many times have people asked you, “What’s your sign?” Of course, they are referring to what is your astronomical or birth sign. Conversely, how many people have asked you, “What’s your astronomical or birth flower?” I would guess the answer is, “Not too many times!”

Gather Around the GardenYoga JudithOctober 11, 2025Yoga JudithCuban oregano - MarchComment

Morning Glory (Ipomoea spp.)

MONTHLY THEME: Morning has broken like the first morning. Blackbird has spoken like the first bird. Morning glory has opened like the first flower.

This month we are going to discuss the Morning Glory, Common Morning Glory (lpomoea spp.). For the cost of a seed package, you will enjoy a flowering vine all summer long. Morning glories are native to Central America and Mexico. The morning glory vine has heart-shaped leaves and trumpet-shaped flowers, which open with the morning sun and close in the afternoon.

Gather Around the GardenYoga JudithAugust 18, 2025Yoga JudithCuban oregano - MarchComment

Blue star (Amsonia tabernaemontana)

MONTHLY THEME: Twinkle, twinkle little blue star won’t you tell me what you are?

Blue star (Amsonia tabernaemontana) is a versatile herbaceous perennial named after the brilliant clusters of periwinkle blue star-like flowers. They produce 50-70 star-shaped flowers on each cluster. In Ohio, they bloom from late spring to early summer – best in June, but the plant is lovely throughout the growing season bringing interest to any garden landscape. In the fall, the leaves turn a golden yellow shade. These plants are native to North America and can be found in almost every state in the union.

Silene Coronaria - Rose Campion (Lychnis coronaria)

MONTHLY THEME: Bring back the charm of an old cottage garden with Rose Campion!

Let’s be honest, sometimes you just need an easy, old faithful, workhorse perennial like the month’s featured plant Silene Coronaria - Rose Campion (Lychnis coronaria). Rose Campion is in the Caryophyllaceae family. It has been grown in Victorian Cottage Gardens for generations, but lost popularity until recent years.

Gather Around the GardenYoga JudithMay 2, 2025Yoga JudithCuban oregano - MarchComment

Easter lily, Lilium longiflorum

MONTHLY THEME: Embrace the traditional Easter lily!

With springtime comes Easter and with Easter comes the traditional Easter lily, Lilium longiflorum. During the holiday season, you will see every grocery store, box store, garden center, and even the local gas station selling Easter lilies. They produce a beautiful and fragrant flower, but they have gotten a bad rap over the years because often people associate them with death since they are commonly found at funeral parlors or wakes. Don’t let fear or superstitions hold you back – embrace the Easter lily! Bring one into your home to decorate for spring and later plant the bulb in the yard to enjoy for years to come. Select a plant with thick foliage and unopened buds. Always check store-bought plants for any pests, mite webbing, insect eggs or holes in the leaves. You don’t want to introduce new bugs into your home or garden.

Magical Moon Garden

MONTHLY THEME: Magical Moon Garden

During winter, our gardens are resting, but the gardener’s mind is ever busy plotting and planning for the next growing season. Our minds are churning and turning with new ideas and dreams for tomorrow’s garden landscape. Usually, I share with you something I have grown or are growing within my own yard. Instead, this month I’m sharing with you my dream for a magical moon garden.

Gather Around the GardenYoga JudithFebruary 2, 2025Yoga JudithSeptember, SunflowerComment

Christmas Gift Ideas for Gardeners

MONTHLY THEME: Christmas Gift Ideas for Gardeners

If someone you love loves gardening, gifting them a special gardening present will brighten their Christmas day. Over the years, I’ve written about all the common Christmas plants; i.e., Poinsettia, Amaryllis, Christmas Cactus, Norfolk Pine, and Paperwhites. Instead of highlighting another Christmas plant, I’m going to toss out some Christmas gift ideas for the gardener in your life.

Gather Around the GardenYoga JudithDecember 1, 2024Yoga JudithSeptember, SunflowerComment

The Art of Seed Saving

MONTHLY THEME: The Art of Seed Saving

The practice of saving seeds dates back approximately 12,000 years. We will discuss how to collect and save seeds from your favorite open-pollinated and heirloom plants. Let’s commit to continuing this ancient practice of growing and gathering seeds for the next growing season.

Gather Around the GardenYoga JudithOctober 14, 2024Yoga JudithSeptember, SunflowerComment

Hoya (Hoya carnosa)

Hoya plants (Hoya carnosa) are commonly called Wax Plants (because of its waxy leaves), Porcelain Flower (you guessed it - because the flowers look like porcelain) or Honey Plant (because the flowers smell sweet as honey). Hoyas are excellent houseplants that are easy to grow and require low-maintenance. The plant produces runners that can be trained to climb or trail around the pot. My plant is happily twisting around the mini-blinds tilt wand. Besides the lovely foliage and vines, the flowers are mindboggling. Similar to the leaves, the flowers look wax-like. Frankly, they appear to be fake and smell like a delicious mixture of chocolate and vanilla. To me, they look like an upside-down pink and white umbrella.

Gather Around the GardenYoga JudithAugust 2, 2024Yoga JudithSeptember, SunflowerComment

PART II: Weeds, weeds, and more weeds!

Monthly Theme: Weeds, weeds, and more weeds!

Just when you thought you knew enough about weeds, here we go again with more information about some of the most troublesome offenders in our yards. Last month we reviewed Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), Ground Ivy (Glechoma hederacea L,), and Canada Thistle (Cirsium arvense). In this issue, we will dig into (pun intended) three more common weeds.

Gather Around the GardenYoga JudithJune 1, 2024Yoga JudithCuban oregano - MarchComment

PART I: Weeds, weeds, and more weeds!

Monthly Theme: Weeds, weeds, and more weeds!

How often have you looked at a plant sprouting in your flowerbed and said to yourself, “Is that a weed?” I’ve even taken it a step further and tried the ‘wait and see’ technique where you let it grow only to determine later that it is indeed a weed, which has now taken over your flowerbed. In this issue, we are going to identify three ordinary weeds found in Ohio (specifically in MY yard!) and methods to attempt to control them. Next month, we will continue are discussion about common garden weeds. Get your trusty weeder, knee pad, and let’s dig into it!.

Gather Around the GardenYoga JudithMay 2, 2024Yoga JudithCuban oregano - MarchComment

Fabulous Florida Flora!

Monthly Theme: Fabulous Florida Flora!

I spent the month of February with my daughter in St. Petersburg, FL. During my lunch breaks, I would walk my grand-dog, Sir Boddington. The “Sir” is a handsome Hungarian Vizsla named after the amber-colored British beer Boddington. Boddington is such a little gentleman that he patiently waited as I stopped to obverse and photograph the various flowering plants, vines, and trees while on our daily walks.

Carnations (Dianthus caryophyllus)

MONTHLY THEME: OH, Ohio!!

As a native Ohioan, born in C-Town (Cleveland) many moons ago, I thought it would be fun to talk about everything Ohio. Since 1904, the Ohio State Flower has been the Scarlet Carnation (dianthus caryophyllus). Legislature selected the red carnation to honor Ohio-born President William McKinley, who was assassinated in 1901. For luck, McKinley wore a red carnation in the buttonhole of his jacket. So much for the lucky theory!

Gather Around the GardenYoga JudithJanuary 1, 2024Yoga JudithCuban oregano - MarchComment

The Art of Flowers

Monthly Theme: The Art of Flowers!

For this month, I wanted to combine two of my favorite things (not sugar and spice and everything nice – though those are also high on my list of desires) - flowers and artwork.

Gather Around the GardenYoga JudithNovember 1, 2023Yoga JudithCuban oregano - MarchComment

Zinnia genus (Asteraceae family)

MONTHLY THEME: Zinnias are natures easy-to-grow workhorses!

Zinnia is actually a genus (part of the Heliantheae tribe) of the Asteraceae family. As you dream and ponder about next summer’s garden, consider planting the quick-growing, vibrate, and dependable zinnia. Like people, they come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. So, read the seed package for plants that will work well in your garden space. Zinnias are annuals, but worth the effort to sow some seeds in the spring. The majority of my gardens are perennials, but there is always some extra room for those favorite annuals wherever a pop of color is needed.

Gather Around the GardenYoga JudithSeptember 22, 2023Yoga JudithCuban oregano - MarchComment

Edible Flowers – they are not just another pretty face!

Monthly Theme: Edible Flowers – they are not just another pretty face!

You might be pleasantly surprised to learn how many edible flowers you have growing in your own yard right now. In fact, while researching this topic, I discovered there are so many more edible flowers then I previously realized. Since the list is too long to go into detail about each edible plant, I’ve selected ten to discuss and provided you a list of additional edible plants to explore on your own. I’m sure this list doesn’t include all of the edible flowers, but it’s a good start. I didn’t include edible herbs (almost every herb is edible), veggies (like squash or broad bean flowers), trees (like eating cherry or citrus tree blossoms) or weeds (such as dandelion or clover) - that’s a whole other blog! Plus, I’m focusing on edible flowers that grow in Northeastern Ohio..

Mulch, mulch, and MORE mulch!

Monthly Theme: Mulch, mulch, and MORE mulch!

Last week I finally finished moving 5 yards of mulch around my half acre lot. Shovel by shovel, it took me 3-weeks and every spare minute of my time. I even used my hour lunch break to move mulch. As soon as the workday was over, I’d work outside until sundown. On weekends, I worked from sunup to sundown. Of course, being a Virgo, I go above and beyond. Weeding meticulously on my hands and knees (like my mom used to do), fertilizing the plants, covering the soil with old newspaper, and finally applying the clean mulch (often spreading evenly by hand).