Rhode Island Feeds

This hybrid stonecrop is new to me. It is the latest member of the sedums in my garden. 8.27.10 Like all sedums, the leaves are characteristically succulent and fleshy, but these are smaller with a tinge of reddish purple. The...

The label that accompanied 'Dragon's Blood Tricolor' Stonecrop, Sedum spurium read, "Fleshy leaves have bright variegation. Rosy-pink flowers.". 7.29.10 I found this plant in a small (3-inch) pot back in late May or early June and planted it by the...

It is Day 3 of rain, but just a little drizzle, not a wash-out. I went outside periodically to deadhead the flowers and trim off the branches of cosmos, hardy hibiscus, hydrangeas and few other flowering plants weighted down...

It is too wet to go out in the garden to do any weeding. 8.22.10 I will not have to think about turning on and moving the sprinklers around. I love looking at raindrops on petals of any flowers and...

A dried, wilted African daisy plant with several dead flowers/leaves, 3 forlorn-looking flowers and a few buds in a 4-inch container was given to me by the owner of a local nursery just yesterday afternoon. It was quickly planted in...

Half a dozen mixed toad lilies were planted in my front garden in the spring (around the same time as the coral drops); but unfortunately only one came up. 8.1.10 Toad lilies belong in the Liliaceae family. Their leaves are...

Many years ago I enjoyed growing different types of culinary salvias (sage is salvia officinalis), primarily for ornamental purpose. I never harvested the leaves for cooking. 6.27.02 Now I only grow the flowering ones. Salvia flowers come in many colors...

Baby's Tears became part of my indoor plants several months ago after I happened to see one at a supermarket. The tiny, delicate, round, light green leaves immediately attracted my attention. I knew I had to try growing it as...

Coral drops are summer flowers from spring-planted bulbs. Six bulbs were planted along my front walk in full sun, but only one plant came up, producing long slender leaves and a very tall flower stem (about 2 feet) with 11...

Two Lobelia cardinalis plants with vivid red flowers in my front garden seemingly appeared out of no where. 7.28.10 I have not seen nor planted one for 3 or 4 years. 8.17.07 Lobelia cardinalis was first planted in my front...

The first time I saw this plant.. I thought it had to be some unsightly tiny ferns that I had never seen before. 5.12.10 Then I took a long, second look at the low-growing plant with such unusual colors and...

False Queen Anne's lace is new to my garden. They were not whole-heartedly welcome initially, but now all three plants have grown on me. I must admit that the more and the closer I look at them, the more I...

Dwarf perennial blue plumbago (Ceratostigma plumbaginoides) has been part of my garden landscape for several years. 8.19.08 Starting out as one small plant, the blue plumbago has continued to grow, multiply, expand and even become somewhat invasive at the border...

Corkscrew Rush: "A whimsical head-turner that provides terrific architectural interest. Leaves are wound in tight, upright spirals when they emerge then begin to relax as they mature. Plant it in a spot where it can be appreciated up close. Also...

I found a new, intriguing plant at a local supermarket some weeks ago. I knew I could not pass up anything as cute and unusual as this.. Lamb's tail flower is cone-shaped and reminds me of celosia's plume. I put...

"Heliotrope blooms in midsummer, and produces only one flower head per stem. These in turn produce many smaller flowers continually, lasting upwards of a couple months each. While not stunningly beautiful, they're interesting to look at and smell nice for...

I have a rather small and modest vegetable patch that I try to cultivate among my "lawn" full of flowers. Yet I'm mighty proud of all the ones thriving in this sweltering heat. Red leaf lettuce and the darker red-leaf...

I found the blue-eyed daisy (osteospermum) with spoon-shaped petals, a new hybrid from Proven Winnersa month ago. The relatively small plants in 4-inch pots were quickly transplanted into the ground in full sun. 6.20.10 The two plants I purchased only...

Scabiosas, commonly known as pin cushion flowers are very attractive flowering perennials. This year I have a new addition, called Black Knight (Scabiosa atropurpurea). 6.27.10 The flowers are slightly larger than knautia and S.ochroleuca (yellow) . The black knight has...

Freesia is one of my most favorite fragrant flowers -- and cut flowers, as well. 6.29.10 Freesia belongs in the family Iridacea with about 14 -16 other species. The genus was named in honor of a German physician, Friedrich Heinrich...