Monarda didyma ‘Jacob Cline’, scarlet bee balm, rivals cardinal flower as one of the truest and deepest red flowers of summer. Difficult to photograph accurately,…
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Plants and flowers that are used by bees are becoming more important as environmental pressure threatens many bee colonies. These plants will help you be part of human activity in the landscape that is beneficial to other species that inhabit our world. Environmental responsibility starts at home.
Tulip poplar is one of the finest native trees in North America. Native to vast tracts of eastern North America, Liriodendron tulipifera is the largest growing…
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Joe Pye weed, native to the eastern United States and Canada, is one of the great herbaceous perennials of late summer and early fall. It…
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Camassia leichtlinii ‘Sacajawea’, variegated camas, is native to the western United States and British Columbia. Camassia leichtlinii is found in persistently wet areas in the…
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I waited an entire year to photograph foxglove Emerson (Digitalis purpurea ‘Emerson’). I’ve grown foxglove Emerson for some time but never photographed it well. Foxglove…
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Prairie rose, Rosa setigera, is a species rose native to North America. Blooming in late spring to early summer, Rosa setigera bears single form roses…
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Native to wide parts of the eastern and midwestern United States & found in moist environments, blackhaw viburnum (Viburnum prunifolium) is drought tolerant. Blackhaw viburnum…
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From childhood onward we know purple coneflower in the American landscape.
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Husker Red is a selected cultivar of Penstemon digitalis, an adaptable and easy to grow garden perennial native to the eastern half of North America.…
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It’s April in Georgia, so upcoming garden musings may be a little azalea- and dogwood-centric. Without further ado, the subject at hand is the Korean…
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Known as tall ironweed or giant ironweed, perennial Vernonia gigantea is big, purple, and native. A member of the aster family, ironweed can grow seven feet and taller in a season before finally blooming late July to September.
Ironweed in the landscape
Being honest, I have whacked ironweed back harshly on more than one occasion, a half-hearted effort at getting rid of it. It’s so big and a bit coarse. Surrounded by more genteel plants one might think the last thing needed is a great big purple plant. Thankfully ironweed bears its name for a reason (it is tough), and I am unfailingly grateful for it when September arrives.