Tropical Hibiscus

Tropical Hibiscus

Since Mother Nature refuses to provide us with a peek at Spring, we’ll take a wishful look at growing tropical hibiscus.   Picture glossy green leaved shrubs, trimmed to five or six feet high, forming a privacy screen around a red brick patio.  Sprinkled among the...

The Language of Flowers

As Valentine’s Day nears, you may be planning to select a floral arrangement or card to send to a loved one.  Consider the language of flowers when making your selections!  Floriography, the technical term for the meaning of flowers, was coined in the Victorian era...

Forcing Paperwhite Narcissus Bulbs

Bring spring into your home to beat the winter blues! Bring a glimpse of spring to your home by forcing paperwhite narcissus bulbs! The beautiful white blooms set above spring green leaves have a distinctive fragrance so consider whether family members or visitors to...

Columbine – Wisconsin Native

A versatile perennial that is now beginning to bloom is the columbine.  A columbine blossom has five petals with a tubular base and flower colors of pink, white, yellow, red, blue, maroon, or purple.  It does best when it receives a few hours of shade each day, but it...

Rose Basics

June’s arrival signifies roses in bloom.  This plant with its exquisite flower is in a class of its own.  Garden centers and mail order nurseries offer a wide array of rose types.  Some of the most popular are shrub roses, floribundas, hybrid teas, climbers, and...