Monthly Archives: January 2009

Euphorbia Fever

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New varieties are sure to add excitement to gardens and containers. Diamond Frost, growing alone in a pot. This variety is part of the Proven Winners lineup. I enjoyed two new-to-me euphorbias in my containers last summer. Euphorbia ‘Diamond Frost’ is a keeper and I’ll definitely have it again this year. The blue-gray, eucalyptus-like foliage is pretty, but the airy sprays of white flowers are fantastic and just stay and stay all summer long. Rudolph Euphorbia will Read more [...]

Bamboo in the Bathroom

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New bamboo towels come in eco-friendly green -- and white, too. Bamboo towels (60% bamboo, 40% cotton) are surprisingly plush. They feel cool to the touch because the bamboo fibers are so smooth that there's little friction on the skin. I used to think towels were just towels. Well, it turns out that you can do better than the ones you got as a housewarming gift 12 years ago. Much better. Today, you can buy high- performance, silky, plush towels that are four times more absorbent than cotton. Read more [...]

New Organic Soil Blends

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With our new mixes, gardeners go from seed to harvest -- 100 percent organic! Our Germinating Mix has been a longtime favorite among folks who start their own seeds. Online reviewers give it high marks because the finely textured blend makes an excellent "foundation" for seedlings and ensures fast growth, well-developed root systems and sturdy plants. And now, we're pleased to offer Organic Seedstarting Mix, a compost -based blend that's 100 percent organic, so gardeners can grow organic from Read more [...]

Winning Veggies from 2008

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Though it will be several months yet before I can start planting, I'll soon be making my seed list for the coming year. Golden sweet peas, growing on our pea fences. Our display gardens here in Burlington, Vermont, are asleep beneath a thick blanket of snow. Though it will be several months yet before I can start planting, I'll soon be making my seed list for the coming year. As always, last year's vegetable garden had some winners and some losers. Though it was a tough growing season (we had Read more [...]

Better Boxwoods

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Evergreens add quiet majesty to winter landscapes. Up here in zone 4/5 Vermont, the closest I've come to having boxwoods is a holiday wreath made from boxwood cuttings. Now, thanks to some recently introduced, much hardier cultivars, I'm looking forward to giving boxwoods a try in my garden. Evergreens tend to be backdrop plants in the landscape, while the flowering trees, shrubs and perennials hog the stage. But in winter, evergreens have a quiet majesty — especially when dusted with snow. Read more [...]

Unusual Container Plants for 2009

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With so much money to be made in new plant introductions, the world’s plant breeders are working overtime. Baby Pete agapanthus These are exciting times for plant nuts. With so much money to be made in new plant introductions (think about the Endless Summer hydrangea and the Wave series petunias), the world’s plant breeders are working overtime. There are lots of terrific new plants being introduced this spring. Over the next few weeks, I’ll highlight a few of them that have Read more [...]

Day Trip to the Tropics

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After the challenges of the holiday season, I want a vacation. A collection of bromeliads, tillandsias, and aroids at the Montreal Botanic Gardens conservatory. After the challenges of the holiday season, I want a vacation. The wintery landscape outside my window has me dreaming of warm, sultry breezes, sand between my toes, and lush tropical plants. A trip to the tropics isn’t in the budget, but I’ve got some great alternatives to rejuvenate my spirit and refresh my perspective. Quick Read more [...]

Gardening Resolutions

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The start of a new year feels like a chance to take charge and start over with new goals and a new attitude. Vegetables grow more efficiently in raised beds. My garden and I share some shortcomings, so this year I’m writing resolutions for both of us. We have some lofty goals for 2009. We resolve to lose weight and get in shape, become less cluttered and better organized. We will finish projects — one or two, at least — and fulfill a few dreams. By solving some of my garden’s Read more [...]