Archive 2008 - 2019

Joan Butler

Total: 17

Davidia Trees

by Joan Butler 5/24/2013

Davidia Tree: Worth the Wait? I think it is well worth the wait.  

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Dwarf Crested Iris

by Joan Butler 5/23/2012

 The dwarf crested Iris brightens the spring garden.     It is an excellent plant for the home garden.  

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Variegated Kousa Dogwood

by Joan Butler 4/23/2012

 Variegated Kousa Dogwood: The “Eyes” Have It

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Mini Hostas

by Joan Butler 4/12/2012

Miniature hostas are widely used in troughs, pots and rock gardens.   Miniature and small hosta can be used in the landscape as ground covers,

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Spring Ephemerals: Adapting for Success

by Joan Butler 3/30/2012

Spring ephemerals are small plants that are early blooming woodland perennials.  Heptatica.

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Redvein Enkianthus

by Joan Butler 3/16/2012

 Easier to Grow Than to Say     Redvein Enkianthus is an upright deciduous shrub that is native to the open woodlands of Japan.   

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The Longstalk Holly

by Joan Butler 3/2/2012

 The Longstalk Holly: To Grow It Is to Love It    Longstalk holly is surprisingly under-used in the home landscape. Its lustrous, wavy leaves add depth and motion to the garden as they catch the light of the sun.

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Top Ten Perennial Picks for Jazzing Up Your Garden

by Joan Butler 2/15/2012

While attending New England Grows earlier this month, atrade show that highlights new trends in landscaping and horticulture, I heard that Tony Avent was scheduled to speak. His topic was “100 Perennials I Wouldn’t Garden Without”, and I knew I couldn’t miss it.

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Hosta: The Friendship Plant

by Joan Butler 6/11/2011

Hostas have become the No.1 selling perennial in America.   There is a size, color and shape of hosta to suit every taste and garden. In addition, this shade-tolerant perennial is easy to grow.

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Tiarella for the Shade Garden

by Joan Butler 5/23/2011

Tiarella for the Shade Garden In May, the blooms of Tiarella carpet the woodland floor with a layer of foamy haze    Tiarella, also known as foamflower, is a deer-resistant wildflower  

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Woodland Wildflowers

by Joan Butler 4/23/2011

Woodland Wildflowers pringtime in the woodlands of eastern North America begins slowly and ends with a crescendo of blossoms that carpet the forest floor in May.  Jeffersonia diphylla, a native twin leaf whose flowers are fragile and fleeting, lasting only a couple of days, but they are a sure sign of spring.

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Hepatica Welcomes Spring

by Joan Butler 4/17/2011

Hepatica Welcomes Spring Hepatica is a beautiful and unique addition to the home shade garden. This little woodland gem is surprisingly under-used in the home garden, even though it is very noticeable in bloom, very easy to grow and very long-lived.

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Ephemeral Beauty of Bloodroot

by Joan Butler 4/13/2011

The Ephemeral Beauty of Bloodroot Spring is the season we all await impatiently. Bloodroot is one of the first of the early bloomers and it is also one of the loveliest.

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Witch Hazel is Spring Preview

by Joan Butler 3/17/2011

 Witch Hazel is Spring Preview Ribbon-like flowers in shades of yellows, oranges and reds fill the winter air with a clean, sweet scent that is most welcome to winter-weary New Englanders. Its unique flowers resemble shreds of crepe paper, with four dainty, twisted petals radiating out from the center. Individual petals are thin and can be up to three-quarter inch long.

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Redtwig Dogwood

by Joan Butler 3/4/2011

Redtwig Dogwood There are Dogwood Trees and there are Dogtwig Trees The dogwood tree, with its spring-time show of delicate pink or white blossoms is a well known native tree. The redtwig dogwoods offer year-round beauty and are valued for their vibrant winter stem colors that are stunning when framed by snow.

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Japanese Stewartia

by Joan Butler 2/16/2011

 Japanese Stewartia is perfectly suited to the suburban landscape.  This naturally well-shaped tree is one of the most desirable small-to medium-sized specimen trees around.

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Winterberry Holly

by Joan Butler 1/29/2011

Winterberry Holly: A Beacon in the Winter Garden   If you are looking for something to brighten your winter gardens, look no further than winterberry holly.

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