Gardeners know the real name of the daffodil is Narcissus. But do you know the story? In Greek mythology, Narcissus was a young man so handsome the Gods forbade him to view his own image. One day, he got involved wih a nymph named Echo, and couldn’t resist a quick glimpse of his face in a [...]
Flowers have been used for almost everything in history, but one of the grand stories is the one of the Hyacinth. It was always popular, but made world famous at the French Court by none other than the beautiful mistress of Louis XV, Madame de Pompadour. She was a highly educated beauty and always more than [...]
Do you know the history of the tulip? How about the daffodil? Unless you know all about Tulipomania, Clusius, and the stories about a goddess named Echo and a handsome youth named Narcissus, you’ll enjoy our article on the history of these two flowers. The perfect conversation starters for spring. Click here.
Well, Martha’s favorite hollyhocks were so popular, now it’s an iris. Our choice of spring-planted irises this year is really wide, including the magnificent Siberian shown at left called “Roanoke’s Choice.” From the Siberians, Japanese, and Louisiana irises we have this year, we’ll choose one free root for every perennial order from now on. Your [...]
Since we’re wildflower enthusiasts, we’re not as fixated on the “new” as most gardening sites, but who can resist the latest and greatest? Right now, there is a new info page on our site called “What’s new” showing just 20 of the new things in our Perennial and Spring Bulb Departments, now on sale for spring. [...]
Every year, there are new ones–Orientals, Asiatics, and new crosses of the crosses. One of the most startling that’s new to me this year is “Salmon Star.” It brings a whole new color to orientals which have always been mostly red, pink and white. On the site this year, we have more lilies than ever, [...]
We have a great new page on the site about Dahlias–gorgeous photos, lots of how-to info, etc. It’s called “An Addiction to Dahlias” and that’s what you’ll have if you begin growing them. Our Spring Bulb section is now live and on sale for spring, so you can dream about these beauties all winter. Take a look: [...]
When winter arrives and the holidays loom, the big beautiful indoor lilies take the spotlight. Just add water, and you have a fantastic big lily inside while the snow flies outside. They’re a gardener’s winter delight, and always will be. However,
I know a group of women who love amaryllis. Every year about this time, they all order a few, and begin watering them. These women are all retired, and live at a place called Windfield, which boldly calls itself “Senior Estates” on the pretty carved sign outside.
These senior estates are really lovely apartments in Hadley, Massachusettes. [...]
Did you know that daffodils are still common in the wild? Well, the ancestral home of many favorite daffodil species is the Ukraine, and a famous valley there has been protected. This is the homeland of the very famous “Poet’s Daffodil”, sometimes called “Old Pheasant’s Eye”. A newer version of it is “Actaea.” It’s most [...]
