Author Archives: Maria Woodie

Confused Forsythia Blooms in the Fall Instead of Spring

November 18, 2013 | Maria Woodie | 0

My forsythia seems to be blooming now, in the fall. How is that possible, since this is a spring-blooming shrub?

A Warning When Using Fallen Leaves As Mulch

November 12, 2013 | Maria Woodie | 0

Fall, with its crisp, cool air and breathtakingly beautiful trees, paint the lands in an array of stunning color. Yet as the days pass by, the once captivating leaves begin to wilt away, falling from the trees and landing in …

Read Article

Arugula, a Quick-Growing Garden Green With a Spicy Kick

November 12, 2013 | Maria Woodie | 0

Virtues: We love arugula for its vibrant green leaves that are jam-packed with zesty flavor; whether eaten raw, used as a culinary herb, cooked like spinach or added to salads and other delectable dishes, arugula adds a kick of peppery …

Read Article

Eating the Fruit of Flowering Quince

November 12, 2013 | Maria Woodie | 0

My flowering quince (Chaenomeles speciosa) seems to have set and ripened fruit. Are these edible? What can I do with them?

Plant Matrona Sedum for Cold-Season Interest

November 5, 2013 | Maria Woodie | 0

Virtues: We love Sedum ‘Matrona’ for its stunning, blush colored flower heads that bloom atop of stout, radiant red stems in late summer lasting into fall. Beneath the large flower heads you will find a spectacular display of lush, silverish-green …

Read Article

Lots and Lots of Ladybugs

November 5, 2013 | Maria Woodie | 0

What should I do about ladybugs that seem to be congregating at my windows and even showing up inside my house?

Do This Simple Test of Your Soil to Find Its Type

November 5, 2013 | Maria Woodie | 0

Test your soil type by performing a jar test—a simple, easy and inexpensive way to discover what type of soil is in your garden.

Forest Pansy Redbud Is a Garden Tree with Fall Color

October 29, 2013 | Maria Woodie | 0

Virtues: We love Cercis canadensis ‘Forest Pansy’ for its clusters of stunning rosy-pink flowers that bloom profusely atop of thin, bare branches in late winter through early spring, just before the foliage emerges. In late-spring, brilliant scarlet-purple leaves cover the …

Read Article

How to Get Rid of English Ivy in the Landscape

October 29, 2013 | Maria Woodie | 0

English ivy (Hedera helix) is taking over my garden, the bigger landscape and even my house. How can I kill and remove this aggressive vine for good?

A Tip to Make Protecting Shrubs in Winter Easier

October 24, 2013 | Maria Woodie | 0

The cold temperatures and often-unpredictable weather during the winter season can drastically damage or even kill the plants left in our yards. Even winter hardy plants, such as lush evergreens, which are supposed to survive safely until spring, can be …

Read Article

An Interview With Exchange Alley’s Gardener/Chef Paul Gerard

October 15, 2013 | Maria Woodie | 0

Photo by Sara Keough For the fall 2013 issue of Great Gardens, I interviewed Paul Gerard, chef and co-owner of Exchange Alley about the vegetable garden that he tends behind this “New Orleans meets the Big Apple” restaurant, which opened …

Read Article