Plants & Flowers

Here in the Northwest, the serviceberry bushes, (Amelanchier canadensis), along the Interstate are the first to show their color in the spring. And what a display they can be - they are often completely covered with a cloud of white blossoms that give way to edible fruit in the early summer. The Serviceberry is also known as the Juneberry,…

Bletilla to Spiranthes, hardy orchids grow well in woodland gardens. Shade-loving perennials like hosta, foamflower and Solomon's seal are good mixers. Gardeners, looking for a challenging plant, will find it among some orchids tough enough for outdoors. Able to thrive in environments where cold winters are the norm, gardeners who grow indoor…

Known as common garden chives, Allium schoenoprasum, can be grown indoors and out. Chives are rich in vitamins A and C, potassium, and calcium. They are grown for the flavour of their leaves, which is reminiscent of onion, although much milder. Both the stems and light purple flowers are used in cooking and the snipped leaves are an addition to…

Japanese knotweed's elegance belies the truth it has become the scourge of home owners. It develops at an astonishing rate, is near-impossible to get rid of and has damaged home value - cleaning countless numbers off residence values. Japanese knotweed, or Fallopia Japonica, was taken to the US from Asia in the mid-19C by German-born botanist…