This craft involves cutting, gluing and designing and can leave a big mess, but it’s lots of fun! Kids can show their creativity as they pick colors and patterns for their butterflies. We talked about why some butterflies have big spots on their wings (to fool potential predators that they have large eyes) and how butterflies grow (from caterpillar to flying insect). I used … Continue reading Kid Stuff—Butterfly Windsocks and Plants
This annual perennial that keeps flying off the tables at every nursery has something that others don’t. What is the secret? How has it bewitched so many level-headed gardeners? They keep coming back year after year. They say “I love this plant, hummingbirds love this plant, plants love this plant. But it died. It didn’t come back, It’s gone!” It doesn’t matter, the people keep … Continue reading Hot Lips Salvia
The common name for Euphorbia is spurge and there are almost 2000 species. One familiar to gardeners is Euphorbia characias or Mediterranean spurge with it’s blue-green foliage and yellow bracts in spring. It thrives in mild winters and well-drained soils. From the book Ask Ciscoe I learned that it does not take well to being divided, but benefits from cutting back the dead or straggly branches. The … Continue reading Euphorbia—relax, it’s just a plant.
Today I was looking at ‘Ascot Rainbow’ Euphorbia and started to get a creepy feeling. Something was watching me. Suddenly this unassuming plant took on a dark side. Hundreds of eyes were staring…..and what was their intention? Surveying the scene to take information back to their leader? (Where shall we plant the minions/seeds?) Planning a special operation? (How to … Continue reading Scary Plants…Eeeek! Euphorbia!!!
The colors of this plant are so diverse, it’s like using an artist’s palette in the garden. Amethyst, purple, chartreuse, black, caramel, multi-colored, chocolate, red, peach, burgundy and bronze are just a sampling of the colors. This North American Native, also known as coral bells, is a perennial favorite with many uses; deer resistance, flowers for cutting, dramatic foliage color, container or woodland garden, and … Continue reading Heuchera
Rainyleaf 