Between the Rows – A Guide to Vegetable Gardening: May 2024
Vegetable gardening information and events for May.
Happy Arbor Day!
Happy Arbor Day!
As we celebrate trees today, remember the vital roles trees play throughout their life cycle, even in stages of decay. Visit our Illustrated Glossary to learn about the value of SNAGS and STUMPS in creating and maintaining healthy habitats and view video clips of wildlife using snags/logs.
GROUND COVER: Iris cristata (Dwarf Crested Iris)
Tried and True Native Plant Selections for the Mid-Atlantic
Indigenous to wooded slopes and floodplain forests, this diminutive iris forms a lovely carpet in various shades of purple when it flowers in spring. Its colorful blooms and easy culture make it a valuable addition to a woodland garden.
Keep That Dead Wood Around!
Snags, Dead Branches, and Stumps Add Habitat and Natural Beauty, Too
Trees work hard providing food and habitat for wildlife and hosting services for butterflies and moths. Trees keep on working as they die and decay. Dead tree trunks left standing (snags), downed logs, fallen branches, and stumps continue to provide food and habitat, sometimes for years.
SHRUB: Aronia melanocarpa (Black Chokeberry)
Tried and True Native Plant Selections for the Mid-Atlantic
This attractive native is often found in bogs, swamps, and moist thickets. Although edible, the fruits’ acerbic taste often causes choking—hence the common name. However, its red coloring and healthy nutrients make it useful in food processing.
The Houseplant Helpline – April Edition
Our houseplant expert answers questions about how to help a plant that's lost leaves and how to pot up a cutting with water propagated roots.