Mint Madness: Peppermint vs Spearmint & More
It’s amazing how fresh herbs elevate a dish. I always try to have a few at hand—with mint being right up there at the top of the list of useful, versatile, and delicious herbs. I’ll talk about different types of mint (including thoughts on peppermint vs...
Jupiter’s Beard: Is It the Right Plant for Your Garden?
Red Valerian is the common name for Centranthus Ruber. There are plenty of other common names as well, like Jupiter’s Beard. It’s also sometimes called Devil’s Beard. Some of the other names for Red Valerian are a bit dodgy—like Kiss-me-quick and Drunkards. One last...
10 Great Uses for Rosemary
Because I’ve used this herb in almost every garden I’ve designed, I’m sharing these ten great uses for rosemary to encourage my clients—and you—to use rosemary as more than just a beautiful plant in the garden. Since you can also just grab some rosemary at the grocery...
Nasturtiums: The Colorful and Edible Flower
I’ve liked nasturtiums since I saw them in Monet’s paintings of the garden at Giverny. The bright and bold trailing plant would blur the gravel pathway,…
Upright Rosemary and Beyond: A Complete Guide to This Versatile Herb
Get to know rosemary! From upright rosemary to mounding varieties and ground covers—there’s so much I want to share. I know there must be things I like more about living in a Mediterranean climate than my ability to grow rosemary, but it’s up there. Karen, my...
Phormium Varieties 101: Everything You Need to Know
Discover the Diversity of Phormium Varieties! Need some pizazz in your garden? If you are finding your garden a little tired and in need of structure or a year around focal point, phormium is a great plant to consider. It’s positively uplifting and eye-catching....
What’s Your Statice? Meet Limonium Latifolium and Family
What’s YOUR statice? My current statice of choice is Limonium latifolium, but it all comes down to personal preference. So let’s dive in to the details! First, some basics. Statice is the common name for Limonium, which is a genus of about 120 or, get...
3 Ways to Use Spectacular Sedum Succulents
Succulents are great plants for the beginner gardener and sedum succulents are a great place to start. They come in a wide variety of shapes and colors. Which type of sedum succulent should you choose?