Opening Observation When my landscaping expert suggested oakleaf hydrangeas for the new front beds, I had to look them up. Hydrangea? Absolutely. But oakleaf? That was new to me. He had just returned from an architecture tour in Chicago and mentioned that the tour guide described oakleaf hydrangeas as a designer favorite for their structure, […]
Plant Profile: Oakleaf Hydrangea ‘Munchkin’ Read More »
Opening Observation I am still deciding how I feel about Wine & Roses Weigela. I like the idea of it more than the current reality. The deep purple foliage is striking, and I love the way it plays off the purple tones of the bigleaf hydrangea nearby. On paper, it is exactly the contrast I
Plant Profile: Wine & Roses Weigela Read More »
Opening Observation I needed an evergreen shrub for the shaded space around my chimney. It had to stay near three feet so it would not block the low windows. Flowers were on my wish list, and fragrance would be a bonus. ChatGPT recommended Sweet & Lo™ Sweet Box (Sarcococca hookeriana var. humilis ‘Sweet & Lo’).
Plant Profile: Sweetbox ‘Sweet & Lo’ Read More »
Opening Observation When I first started planning the chimney garden, I was looking for traditional evergreens, something structured and familiar, like a holly or a compact pine. It never occurred to me that an evergreen could also flower. Technically, boxwood and holly do, but I have never thought of them that way; their blooms are
Plant Profile: Pieris japonica ‘Little Heath’ Read More »