Baptisia is a beautiful addition to the flower garden creating an impressive backdrop in the perennial border. The cut flowers and blue-green foliage are lovely in arrangements. This plant becomes a sub shrub ultimately reaching 4‘ high and 4’ wide, dying back to the ground in winter. It produces tall spikes of lovely pea like…Continue Reading “Baptisia australis or False Indigo”
The rolling countryside of England, lush and green, is a picture-perfect ideal for countryside vistas. A place like Southampton, the first incorporated English settlement in New York State has its own version of a countryside blending beaches, sandy soil and farmland . Of course, the English climate with frequent rain is conducive to carefree green…Continue Reading “The Perfect Grass”
In a fun children’s book “We are growing” by Laurie Keller, a dandelion is described as the dandiest weed. It is, indeed. Fluffy yellow dandelion flowers add neon-colored brightness to spring lawns and fields. The flowers attract bees and other pollinators. Some even liken the dandelions to daisies: maintenance-free splashes of color. However, dandelion leaves…Continue Reading “The Dandelion Season”
Privet (Lugustrum) is almost synonymous with the Hamptons. Surrounding beautiful estates and homes, privet hedges afford much needed privacy to residents and guests in the summer season. Accenting pools and pathways is also a popular reason to add privet to gardens. In winter, the plants deliver a measure of security — when the privet leaves…Continue Reading “‘Tis the Season to Prune your Privet”
By Lydia Wallis Peonies can be documented as far back in history as Confucius (551 – 479 BC). They have been revered for centuries and immortalized on textiles and in paintings. They are truly one of my favorite flowers with their entrancing beauty and alluring fragrance. Their magnificent blooms enhance border gardens but can also stand…Continue Reading “Now Is the Time to Start Thinking About Peonies!”
With their large flowers and magnificent presentation, magnolias are a staple of the Hamptons’ garden. Despite their current appeal, magnolias are one of the oldest flowering species and have been around since prehistoric times, even before the appearance of flying pollinators such as bees. To survive, magnolias adapted to using beetles to cross-pollinate their flowers….Continue Reading “Magnolias”
Photos: Courtesy of Cindy Willis Daffodils, Croci, Hellebores, Tulips and Pansies! Among these and many other plants that whisper ‘spring has finally come’, pansies are delicate and beautiful annual flowers enjoyed in border plantings and flower boxes. Pansies are great for adding instant pops of color well before late Spring and Summer plants produce blooms….Continue Reading “Pansies”
Fall is the time to think about Spring – at least for your garden! Planting spring-blooming bulbs now is the surest way to ensure a beautiful garden display when you most need it at the end of our dreary winters. And, if you spend winters in the south, coming north at the end of winter to a stunning array of spring blossoms makes your homecoming that much sweeter…
“September is dressing herself in a show of dahlias and splendid marigolds and starry zinnias…” Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. When & Where To Plant For best results, dahlias should be planted from mid April through May when ground temperature are about 60 degrees. In general, about the same time you would plant your vegetable garden….Continue Reading “Dahlias”
Hydrangeas are excellent for a range of garden sites from group plantings to shrub borders to containers. Varieties abound (every year, it seems, breeders present us with more options!), and gardeners’ expectations of bloom size and color are boundless. To know how your hydrangea will grow, pay attention to the types, defined below. When you know…Continue Reading “Hydrangea”
