A quintessential symbol of summer and carefree days, when gardeners think about sunflowers many quickly picture our annual sunflowers, those tall denizens that stand statuesquely over a fence and are ubiquitous in all kinds of artwork. These do a great job of feeding birds by providing large, edible, sunflower seeds and certainly garner one’s admiration. …
April is an exhilarating month for gardeners as the early spring bloomers begin their show. Diminutive and dainty, sometimes we don’t appreciate a plant that seems common. But take a good look at violets in your garden and at the array of insects they are feeding. Instead of spending money to rid yourself of them, …
Planting a tree is one of the most impactful actions a gardener can take. Trees can provide innumerable benefits to the landscape, ecosystem, and home. Places where trees stretch across the landscape provide not only beauty, but a sense of calm, security, and timelessness as trees serve several generations of families. Since suburban New Jersey …
If you can plant only one tree, what should it be? Read More »
Most gardeners are familiar with evergreen hollies, a traditional plant used for holiday decorations with its glossy green leaves and stunning red berries. There are various species of hollies native to different areas of the world but the evergreen holly native to the eastern part of the US is American holly, or Ilex opaca. It …
Let’s face it, the world is out of balance! Our ecosystems are dysfunctional and events that should be occurring once-in-a-blue-moon are now commonplace (hurricanes and tornadoes in New Jersey, and wildfires and unprecedented drought in the West, just to name a few). One way to help our ecosystems regain some balance is through the use …
Suggesting that gardeners plant a grass can seem humdrum. However, little bluestem will have you singing for joy with its many attributes. Graceful, architectural, easy to grow, wildlife friendly, deer and rabbit resistant, good fall color and salt tolerant top the list. Little Bluestem blooming With a fibrous root system that can reach five feet …
Imagine a large shrub beautifying the landscape for three seasons while requiring little maintenance and covering a large area, keeping it weed-free. Hydrangeas are popular garden shrubs beloved by gardeners. Unfortunately, the one most often grown—the mophead or French hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla)—often causes gardeners heartaches when it fails to bloom because its buds succumb to …
So you’re looking for a tree but want something that’s not too tall? After all, many New Jersey gardens are not large enough for 70-foot trees such as oaks. Our native serviceberry might offer a solution for you. Although some are trees with a single trunk, most serviceberries are actually large multi-stemmed shrubs that can …
Anise hyssop Long-blooming, fragrant, and beneficial to bees and birds, anise hyssop (Agastache foeniculum) is an awesome perennial for the garden. It has lovely lavender-colored flower spikes and begins blooming at the end of June, often continuing until the beginning of September. It grows in full sun and is adaptable to different soils, from average …
Native Spotlight: The sweet scent of anise hyssop Read More »
Many native plants are not widely known and therefore underused. The big box stores don’t carry them, so gardeners are unaware of them. However, they are stellar performers in the garden. Such is the case with mountain mint, a versatile native with tiny, tubular flowers that attract pollinators like there’s no tomorrow. When in bloom …
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Friends of Laurelwood Arboretum is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
