Tag Archives: Native Plants
Common Milkweed Safari
We will not sell you Asclepias syriacus. That’s mostly because you all will not buy it (plus keeping these to plug-size is nearly impossible. Fascinatingly many people think of this plant as a weed, aggressive, messy and not pretty, while coveting and purchasing every last bit of its more ornamental cousins: Asclepias incarnata, Asclepias tuberosa, […]
Common Ground: Finding the Familiar in the Unfamiliar
It may be hard to find some way to identify with the plight of Ukrainian people at this moment. We watch the news, see images of refugees and bombed hospitals. For those of us without the personal experience of war, we struggle with understanding and knowing what, if anything, there is we can do and […]
What Can I Plant There? Shady, Dry, Root-Filled
Many of us have large trees in our landscapes. Often people struggle with trying to maintain lawn grasses under them, with varying degrees of success. This area can be considered a blank slate for a perennial planting full of seasonal interest. There are some reasons why it is challenging to create a stunning garden beneath […]
Sunflowers Made for the Shade
Are you one of those people who like summer? Who enjoy the heat and humidity? Do you have your limits? Are we reaching them? Today it is supposed to be 98 degrees with a real-feel of 103. Any one out there saying they enjoy this? It is not fun inside a greenhouse, that’s for sure. […]
Don’t let the name scare you – Downy Wood Mint is not like its aggressive cousins
Blephilia ciliata, or Downy Wood Mint is in the mint family and so related to known, and beloved, rampant spreaders and aggressive competitors such as Pycnanthemum muticum and Physostegia virginiana. Sometimes we want something that will fill in a space quickly and thoroughly, especially if it attracts pollinators and supports beneficial insects. And sometimes we […]
What is Pale Indian Plantain and why should I plant it?
Think about what you order, what you plant and what you recommend for planting? We are sure you have your favorites. In fact, we know you have your favorites – we can tell by the orders. When is the last time you tried out an unfamiliar plant? Ordered some to plant around and see how […]
“Plants know how to make food and medicine from light and water, and then they give it away.”
Plants know how to make food and medicine from light and water, and then they give it away. Robin Wall Kimmerer Braiding Sweetgrass It is the time of year when many of us are trying to stick to resolutions, honor intentions and achieve goals. Sound familiar? What are you working on? Are any of yours […]
Research: Sorghastrum nutans
If you are on our email list you may have received an email recently extolling the virtues of Sorghastrum nutans, or Indian Grass. You may have heard about allelopathic properties attributed to Sorghastrum nutans. This means that, similar to Juglans nigra (Black Walnut), the plant exudes plant growth regulating chemicals that inhibit plant growth around […]
Plants with a Point
Nope, not spiky, thorny, spiny or prickly plants. These are plants with cardinal points. You probably read in a recent email update* about Echinacea tennesseensis ‘Rocky Top’ and the fact that its flowers always point east. The same is true with sunflowers. While researchers are still not quite sure why this is the case, there […]
Considering Root Diversity
When planning projects we are often considering diversity: the diversity of the animals who will be using them, pollinators, beneficial insects, birds, mammals; the diversity of seasonal interest: flowering time, showy fruits, good fall color, winter structure; the diversity of texture, shape and size. But have you considered the diversity of the roots of plants […]
New Moon Nursery 
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