Deutzia, Hydrangeacae, is a Sturdy, Easy to Grow Shrub

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Deutzia, beautiful woody shrub

Deutzia HYDRANGEACAE

In the gardens of cottages and castles in England, we find deutzia in full bloom this time of year.  Lovely to look at, delightful to grow and easy to maintain, this tried and true deciduous shrub grows in many areas right here in the USA!  Hardy from zone 4 south to zone eight, it easily withstands cold. 

 There are about 60 varieties of deutzia, some bloom white, others pink or shades of pink from dark to pale.  Plants grow to mature sizes from about three to four feet to twelve feet in height.  Width mostly equals the height when full grown.  Continue reading →

Buttercups, a Wide-ranging Wildflower

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Beautiful Wildflowers

Buttercups bloom by the roadside – Photo by Jeanne Cope

 Each spring nature brings its own show of beautiful flowers in many places.  One of the most common wildflowers is the Buttercup, which as if on an invisible signal, comes up from nowhere.  We are unaware the last act of these plants as summer moves into the landscape is to sow the seed they have produced.  Continue reading →

Viburnum placatum f. tomentosum, Shasta, Doublefile Viburnum

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Doublefile Viburnum

Viburnum plicatum f. tomentosum – Photo by Jeanne Cope

This spring has been glorious with many blooms to brighten our days.  One day a special plant bursts into bloom, followed by others of equal beauty, making this is an ideal time to select cultivars and adding one or two to your landscape.  Just driving around neighborhoods discloses the changing landscape of beautiful plants and flowers.

 Driving through Jonesborough, glancing between the post office and back entrance of the VisitorCenter, there, against the red brick wall were two specimens of Viburnum plicatum f. tomentosum, commonly known as Doublefile Viburnum. 

This magnificent plant, referred to as “classy” by author Michael Dirr in his book titled “Viburnums,” is one of approximately 250 species of Viburnum, many grow well in clay soil and cold winter temperatures. Continue reading →

NE State Community College Gives Awards to Reece Barringer, Jim Hendrics, and the Greens Club honored for Raised Bed Gardens

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Students in Outdoor Classroom, NE State

There are hundreds of volunteers in the TriCities, among them members of the Faculty, Staff and student body at NortheastStateCommunity College.  As the spring term ends, students depart the campus of this forward thinking College for new careers, jobs and further education at nearby Universities or other campuses across this nation. Continue reading →

Lilacs Bloom in the TriCities

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Lilac in full Bloom

Lilac – Photo by Jeanne Cope

 In  Walt Whitman’s poem, “When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom’d…”  He refers to an old whitewashed farmhouse with a tall lilac-bush with heart-shaped green leaves and many pointed blossoms rising with a lovely perfume, growing near the doorway.

Lilacs, having enjoyed an extra cold and snowy winter, are now in full Continue reading →

Plant a few Tulips in October or November just for 2014 Beauty

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Tulips in the Spring

Tulips – Photo by Jeanne Cope

Even though the last frost date is traditionally May 15, many beautiful trees and flowers are in full bloom.  For the first time this spring, I have 150 tulips blooming in the front yard.  Planted during cold, wet, gray days at the end of last November, lovely tulip blooms are now rewarding us with a quiet, elegant beauty for the energy we spent planting them. Continue reading →

Osteospermum, African Daisy

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African Daisy

Osteospermum, African Daisy – Photo by Jeanne Cope

Razzle, Dazzle, Sis Boom Bah!  An old annual is back with such vibrant colors we cannot believe we are seeing a live plant and not those artificial “never wilt” blooms from the craft store.  Pink, blue, white with blue, yellow, deep burgundy, and many new cultivars entice us to this beautiful plant.  Osteospermum was popular in the 1990’s in a few colors, and then vanished from the market.  Now, here they are fresh from the hybridizer in dashing new bright colors that bloom in the shade. Continue reading →

Wherever you Live, Spring is About 100 Miles South

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Spring is about 100 Miles South

Raspberry Red Geraniums  -  Photo by Jeanne Cope

 TriCities TN is only about 100 miles north of Asheville NC, but spring moving slowly north, arrives there about a week or two before it pops out here.  Sometimes my impatience gets the best of me so we drove over toAshevilleto visit springtime a little early.  With a sunny and temperatures mild,  away we went.  We drove acrossAshevilleto visit a favorite plant nursery and see their spring. Continue reading →