In Praise of Redbud

Posted on by carole funger

redbud tree and green bench

I always smile when the redbuds start blooming in my area. Flowering with reckless abandon, the magenta-colored trees instantly invigorate the landscape. One of my friends shouts out REDBUD! when her own dazzling specimen bursts into bloom. That seems to me the perfect way to describe the electric flowering of this upbeat, ornamental tree.

Indeed, redbud’s blossoms are hard to ignore. Oversized and fluffy, they envelop the tree’s branches, even covering the trunk. Their effect is fresh, bold and a little bit jaunty.

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The Tiny Frog World of the Northern Spring Peeper

Posted on by carole funger

These days, even the smallest things can take on greater significance. Like many of you, I’ve been in quarantine for weeks now, except to take occasional walks outdoors. And so it happened that last week, while hiking along Maryland’s C & O canal, I encountered a high-pitched sound. The single, repeated note seemed to be emanating from the forest. Continue reading →

Philadelphia Flower Show 2020 Presents A Riviera Holiday

Posted on by carole funger

Tired of the cold? I recommend attending the Philadelphia Flower Show, where spring is always in season. The week-long exhibition offers a welcome break to the winter-weary, while providing endless inspiration for the garden. We recently joined an enthusiastic crowd for a little ‘Riviera holiday’, while soaking in the sights, colors and smells of the French Mediterranean. Continue reading →

Daffodil Bulb Care: The Top 5 Things You Need To Know

Posted on by carole funger

Recently my inbox has been overflowing with questions from readers worried about the abnormally warm winter we’ve been experiencing. Many of the questions center on daffodils; in particular, what to do about unruly bulbs. Before replying, I first spoke with a few local nursery experts to gain their advice. Here are five of my readers’ top concerns about daffodil bulbs and what to do about them. Continue reading →

Finally, A ‘Phenomenal’ Lavender That Looks Good All Winter

Posted on by carole funger

They said it couldn’t be done, but finally, there’s a new kind of lavender that looks good all winter. Appropriately dubbed ‘Phenomenal’, it’s so good that it’s now being used for municipal plantings. To understand the hype, I purchased a few plants for a trial run. What I discovered was nothing short of, well, phenomenal. Continue reading →

Meet Stevia Rebaudiana: The Plant Behind the Hype

Posted on by carole funger

stevia rebaudiana

Last week, I was vacationing in Canada when an interesting commercial appeared on the TV. It was an ad for the sweetener, stevia, featuring enthusiastic consumers growing plants at home. Needless to say, it caught my attention. I had heard that stevia extract came from a ‘natural’ source. But I’d never stopped to consider what that meant from a gardening perspective.

I decided to dig deeper. Continue reading →

5 Top Christmas Tree Types: A Guide To Finding Your Perfect Match

Posted on by carole funger

Every year is different when it comes to Christmas. But in my home, there is one thing that remains constant. When I shop for a tree, I always head straight for the Fraser firs. These are the trees I grew up with, and their fragrance reminds me of my childhood. And as we all know, memory is a key component in any holiday décor. Continue reading →