Monthly Theme: “Bell of the Ball” Bellflowers!

When you hear someone say Campanula or bellflower, you might quickly picture one of many flowering plants.  There’s a wide array of flowers that fall under the category of Campanulas and/or bellflowers.  Actually, there are over 500 species under the genus Campanula.  I purchased my original plant from the Kent Community Garden annual plant sale many years ago and the seller just called them Pink Campanula Bellflowers.  From my research, I concluded the variety I have is Campanula punctata “Spotted bellflower.”  They have quickly spread and filled in a 6’ x 6’ area and are truly the “Bell of the Ball’ in that corner of my yard! 

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Monthly Theme: Easy – Exotic - Eucomis! 

Yes, you can drive to the nearest box store and pick yourself up some petunias, geraniums, marigolds, daylilies, violas or hostas so your yard will look like everyone else’s yard OR you can search out and select less common and more interesting plants to create a unique landscape. 

To get you started on this gardening adventure, let me introduce you to Eucomis autumnalis (Pineapple lily).  I purchased a couple bulbs in 2009 and they have become a focal point in my garden and a conversation piece with visitors to my home.  They have multiplied and I’ve shared with several friends.

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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.

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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)! 

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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?

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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!”

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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!.

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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.

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