Kissing under a mistletoe sprig or kissing ball is a festive and romantic Christmas tradition – but this plant has a side that is less savory. . . A parasitic plant, mistletoe grows on the branches or trunk of a hardwood tree and sends out roots that penetrate into the tree and take up nutrients. [...]
What would you do if it was Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day, so you want to blog about what is blooming, but all of your plants were enveloped in snow, with nary a bloom in sight, except for one frozen solid patch of icy snow-covered strawflowers (Bracteantha bracteata)? You could show pictures of snow instead of [...]
Paperwhite narcissus bulbs are fabulous to force for holiday bloom. “Forcing” is when you get things to bloom outside of their usual season. Paperwhites (Narcissus papyraceus, from the Tazetta group of daffodils) are great for forcing because unlike most other daffodils, they do not require a cold period. Their fragrance is wonderful. And they usually bloom [...]
After a week of very cold and snowy weather, I think I can safely say that winter has arrived in Cincinnati! The neighborhood children are out making snowmen and forts . . . Speaking of neighborhood children, our family has acquired a temporary new teenager, Lili, who comes to us as an exchange student from [...]