‘Longwood Gold’ Foster’s Holly
'Longwood Gold' is a selection of Foster's holly (Ilex x attenuata), a hybrid between dahoon holly (I. cassine) and American holly (I. opaca), both of which are native to the Eastern U.S. A female cultivar, 'Longwood Gold' will generally receive sufficient pollination from nearby male American hollies during spring to provide ample fruit set.   > > read article

Forcing Bulbs
I am counting the days until spring. I watch the weather forecast like I am watching the lottery numbers being read, hoping the meteorologist is going to give me some good news. Once the holidays are over, gardeners start dreaming about the beauty that lies beneath the surface of the soil, knowing there are bulbs under there just waiting for the right minute to bust out.   > > read article

Hold the Salt
Most of the harm from snow really comes from how we get rid of it. Time for a little rethink. Who doesn’t love new snow? The white blanket softens the world and makes everything look new. And it’s a good thing for the garden. Snow cover insulates the soil so it is less likely to thaw and then freeze again. Enveloping snow protects plant tissue from cold snaps and adds moisture when it melts in spring.   > > read article