Author Archives: Meghan Shinn

Cherish Black Oak for Its Spring and Fall Color

February 24, 2015 | Meghan Shinn | 0

Virtues: We love black oak (Quercus velutina) for its yellow spring catkins, red new leaves and colorful fall foliage. This native tree tolerates poor, dry soil and supports wildlife. This tree is being honored in 2015 by Nebraska’s GreatPlants program …

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Keeping Tabs on Houseplants in Winter

February 17, 2015 | Meghan Shinn | 0

If a collection of houseplants is all that separates you from full-on gardening withdrawal this time of year, be sure to follow these two key tips for keeping them healthy and vibrant in the depth of winter:

Dreamland Red Zinnia Shines in the Flower Garden

February 17, 2015 | Meghan Shinn | 0

Virtues: We love ‘Dreamland Red’ zinnia for its time-tested performance in flower gardens across the United States. This annual zinnia offers rich red flowers and a compact growth habit. What’s more, it typically does not fall victim to powdery mildew. …

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Grow Award-Winning Roxanne Radish This Year

February 9, 2015 | Meghan Shinn | 0

Virtues: We love ‘Roxanne’ radish for its red skin and bright white interior. While some radishes can develop red streaking inside, ‘Roxanne’ radish remains pure white, making its slices a beautiful addition to the plate. This radish also stands apart …

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Durable Desert Moss Takes Foot Traffic and Drought

February 2, 2015 | Meghan Shinn | 0

Virtues: We love ‘Wallowa Mountain’ desert moss (Arenaria ‘Wallowa Mountain’) because it is an evergreen, exceptionally short and compact groundcover native to Oregon that resembles moss yet is very drought tolerant. Superb for xeric and fairy gardens, permanent containers, between …

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Red Pine Is a Hardier Alternative to White Pine

January 26, 2015 | Meghan Shinn | 0

Virtues: We love red pine (Pinus resinosa) for its extreme cold hardiness and its tolerance of poor garden sites, an advantage over white pine. This native evergreen develops reddish bark with age. Red pine is the state tree of Minnesota …

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Grow Easy Sandy Lettuce in Containers or Garden Beds

January 20, 2015 | Meghan Shinn | 0

Virtues: We love ‘Sandy’, an oakleaf lettuce, for its sweet taste, disease resistance (including powdery mildew, tip burn and downy mildew) and heat tolerance. ‘Sandy’ lettuce can be grown among cool-season annual flowers in mixed beds and containers, or kept …

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Giant Sacaton Is an Impressive Ornamental Grass All Winter

January 13, 2015 | Meghan Shinn | 0

Virtues: We love giant sacaton (Sporobolus wrightii) for its hardiness and its upright habit, which it retains throughout winter. A Southwest native, it tolerates heat and drought too. This species of Sporobolus has been named Ornamental Grass of the Year …

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It’s Time to Inventory Your Seed Packets

January 13, 2015 | Meghan Shinn | 0

January is a good time to take stock of any seeds you’ve saved. Here are tips for sorting through old seed packets and organizing them ahead of seed-starting season, so you know what you need (and don’t need!) to purchase:

‘Woodward’ Is a Juniper that Grows Tall and Skinny

January 6, 2015 | Meghan Shinn | 0

Virtues: We love ‘Woodward’ juniper (Juniperus scopulorum ‘Woodward’) for its tall, narrow shape, which makes it an ideal accent for small spaces or for use as a hedge or windbreak. This snow- and wind-tolerant evergreen is a Plant Select honoree …

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Watering Houseplants With Fish Tank Water

January 6, 2015 | Meghan Shinn | 0

If you have a certain household item, it just may become an aid in making your houseplants flourish, while cutting back on wasted water, too.