Author Archives: tarheel gardening.com

Nephrolepis exaltata Rita’s Gold™ — Boston fern

Name: Nephrolepis exaltata Rita’s Gold™ — Boston fern Zones: 9 – 10 Size: 18 – 24 inches tall and wide Conditions: morning sun, afternoon shade; moist but well-drained soil; landscape or container plant Since I’ve moved into an apartment and … Continue reading

Posted in Perennials | Tagged | Leave a comment

An arbor addition transforms the garden

An arbor serves as a portal into a garden room; a transition point to tell a visitor it’s time to pause, giving you a change in perspective.  Training vines to cover the arbor, brings garden life to another dimension — reason enough to want to find the perfect spot in your garden to add an arbor. Continue reading

Posted in Design Ideas | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Foeniculum vulgare ‘Purpureum’ — Bronze Fennel

Foeniculum vulgare ‘Purpureum’ — Bronze Fennel Continue reading

Posted in Perennials, Wildlife | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Dear Cleome,

Dear Cleome, Since the day we first met, in what seems like another life ago and certainly another garden ago, I loved you. I knew one day you would be mine. Now after more than 10 years of you coming … Continue reading

Posted in Annuals | 1 Comment

Inviting wildlife to your backyard – It’s all the buzz!

Reprint of story first appearing in Carolina Gardener. As the evening light wanes,  I step out the back door of my suburban home, entering my wildlife habitat.  If I was seeking some alone time, I’ve come to the wrong place. … Continue reading

Posted in Wildlife | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Echinacea purpurea, Purple Coneflower

Topping my list for a wildlife friendly perennial, Echinacea purpurea, Purple Coneflower, provides a powerful purple in the garden, as well. Orangy-brown spiny centers with drooping lavender petals, makes this perennial widely known and desirable for use in the home garden. Continue reading

Posted in Perennials | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

NCNLA helps members in need devastated by Tornadoes

Tornado Relief Fund
Dear NCNLA Members and Friends,
As of May 11, thanks to your generosity and compassion, we have raised over $26,500 in monetary donations to help our colleagues whose businesses and homes were devastated by the April 16 Tornadoes. NCNLA has distributed $20,500 back to members in need, and will continue to do so over the next few months. Continue reading

Posted in News | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Pot ‘em up!

Don’t you love the lush and colorful plantings of summer flowering bulbs? Often I see something like this (left), blooming in the summer and which I’d thought to plant these lily bulbs, but then I realize it’s not too late. I can have this whenever I find them blooming at the garden center!
Continue reading

Posted in Bulbs | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Pruning hydrangeas

It’s that time of year again where hydrangeas bring our months of May and June into focus. We’re often asked about pruning hydrangeas. The timing to prune will depend on the type of hydrangea you have. Continue reading

Posted in How-tos | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

The North Carolina Nursery and Landscape Association

North Carolina’s diverse horticulture industry impacts every county in the state. As the state’s agricultural industry evolves to meet changing economic conditions, scores of farmers enter horticultural crop production, creating on-farm and off-farm jobs in many rural areas. Most horticultural businesses are small, family owned companies – the sector which will help lead NC out of the recession. The NCSU Horticultural Science Department is working for NC and for NC’s horticultural industries. Continue reading

Posted in News | Tagged , , | Leave a comment