You might think of scientists as mild mannered, and those who choose to study flora as likely to be calmer than, say, nuclear physicists. But things can get pretty heated when botanists gather to talk about plants—particularly when names are at stake. Read What’s in a Name?—A Primer on Plant Taxonomy
Plants & Gardens Blog
Into the Garden
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What’s in a Name?—A Primer on Plant Taxonomy
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A Late-Season Garden
Many gardeners feel compelled to prune back perennials and grasses in the fall, and some plants do indeed need to be cleaned up. But those with beautiful and interesting ornamental elements can help your garden make the transition from autumn to winter. Read A Late-Season Garden
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Designing A Hummingbird Garden: 15 Ways to Keep Them Coming
Hummingbirds prefer openings in the forest and forest edge, and so are readily drawn to suburban and rural gardens that offer a mix of tall trees, shrubs, and patches of meadow and lawn. Read Designing A Hummingbird Garden: 15 Ways to Keep Them Coming
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Hardy Terrestrial Orchids
There is a hardy terrestrial orchid for practically every conceivable setting: woodland landscapes, lightly shaded perennial borders, stream banks, rock gardens, cold alpine houses, and cool-grown household terrariums. Read Hardy Terrestrial Orchids
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Herbes de Provence: An Elegant, Potted-Garden Design
Longing to visit Provence, that beautiful and charming region in the south of France, to bask in its warm sunlight, taste its delicious cuisine, and see the sloping vineyards and colorful scenery that charmed Cezanne and Van Gogh? Well, you can capture some of the ambience of Provence by growing its famous culinary herbs in your garden. Read Herbes de Provence: An Elegant, Potted-Garden Design
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Elegant Epimedium—Foliage and Flowers of Subtle, Sophisticated Beauty
You'll never fall in love at first sight with Epimedium the way you might swoon over roses or peonies. But once you get to know this genus—and appreciate its reliability, durability, and sophisticated good looks—I guarantee you'll enjoy a long-lasting relationship. Read Elegant Epimedium—Foliage and Flowers of Subtle, Sophisticated Beauty
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Water-Thrifty Gardening
Here are ten easy ways you can conserve water in your garden without harming your plants. Read Water-Thrifty Gardening
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Pretty Partridgeberry—A Native Groundcover With Lots of Star Potential
Partridgeberry, (Mitchella repens) is that rare beast—a native, shade-tolerant, broad-leaved evergreen groundcover. Seasonal eye candy includes white flowers in spring and red berries that persist through winter. Read Pretty Partridgeberry—A Native Groundcover With Lots of Star Potential
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2006 Titan Arum Bloom (Video)
Watch as the rare corpse flower, Amorphophallus titanum, blooms at Brooklyn Botanic Garden in August, 2006. Read 2006 Titan Arum Bloom (Video)
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Unusual Hardy Aroids—Tropical-Looking Beauties for the Northern Gardener
If I had to pick my favorite plant family, I think it would be the Araceae, or aroid family (also called the philodendron family or arum family). The species in this family have such bold, striking foliage and bizarre, interesting flowers. Read Unusual Hardy Aroids—Tropical-Looking Beauties for the Northern Gardener