I Love Helianthus ‘Lemon Queen’
Name: Helianthus ‘Lemon Queen’
Type of Plant: A tall perennial sunflower that’s hardy in zones 4-9.
Why I Love This: This perennial is large, showy, and a butterfly magnet. It flowers in mid to late summer for about two months, is sturdy and never needs staking, and grows well in most soils. ‘Lemon Queen’ grows 6 to 8 feet tall, so it’s the perfect plant to place along a sunny fence, in with larger shrubs, or at the back of the perennial border. Although this plant prefers full sun, mine has done well in a part-sun location…just be sure it has sunshine in mid-day when the light is strongest.
A Word to the Wise: Don’t plant this unless you have SPACE for it to spread. Allow a 6-foot diameter area for one plant. Yes, you read that right…a six foot diameter. This would be a great screening plant for a patio where you want summer privacy, or as the “walls” for a living sunflower house for kids. This is a plant to have FUN with!
I have ‘Lemon Queen’ growing next to two large shrubs: Hydrangea ‘Pinky Winky’ and Physocarpus ‘Center Glow.’ The ‘Lemon Queen’ holds its own!
I Love Pokeweed. That’s Right…I Said Pokeweed
Name: Phytolacca Americana – AKA pokeweed Type of Plant: I think this might be the first weed I’ve featured as a plant that I love. Pokeweed is a North American native plant, a large growing perennial with poisonous berries and roots. It's hard to get rid of and the...
Broccoli Flower Salad
At this time of year there are always a few small side-shoot heads of broccoli that get by us, even though we try to keep those small heads constantly harvested. (And if you're a new gardener and are waiting for those small heads to become big like the broccoli crowns...
I Love Hydrangea Bobo
Name: Hydrangea paniculata ‘Ilvobo’ aka Bobo® Type of Plant: A dwarf version of the bone-hardy (zones 3-8) Hydrangea paniculata. Why I Love This: So many people love Hydrangeas in foundation plantings, flower gardens or pots, but many of them get too large. Bobo...
Smart Writing, A Tale Well Told, Historical Fiction, and FUN!
Full disclosure? This book cost me several hours of sleep. I dove into the review copy I was sent one evening and had a hard time putting it down. Two nights in a row. This is a delicious romp of a novel, and perfect for those who like smart writing, a tale well told,...
Baby Beets With Dill
When I was growing up my mother used to make "Harvard Beets" which were boiled beets with sugar and vinegar in the water. I do something similar now, but use much less sweetening and fresh herbs for seasoning. 12 to 16 Baby Beets or smaller beets cut into quarters 1/2...
Healthy Weight Loss? You Can Grow That!
Put aside the myths, products and gimmicks about weight loss and what you’ve got is the truth: it’s a matter of calories taken in and calories burned. For most people (yes, there are exceptions) if more than you’ve burned and you gain weight. Eat less and you lose...
I Love African Blue Basil
Name: Ocimum kilimandscharicum x basilicum pupureum AKA (thankfully) African Blue Basil Type of Plant: A dark foliaged basil that is both ornamental and culinary, with clove-like overtones in the taste. Because it doesn't go to seed you don’t have to pinch off the...
The Importance of Editing
In the middle of summer is no time to ignore the garden. No matter what type of gardens you have, it's important to have a controling hand as the season progresses. Of course there are weeds. But there are also self-seeded annuals, biennials, perennials and shrubs...
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