"The Curious Gardener" presents A Book Give Away this Month-- To enter sign up for our "Curious Gardener" newsletter and you'll be automatically entered to win one of two copies we're giving away.  If you've already signed up for our newsletter, send me an email at dwinslow@womanswork.com and I'll enter you.  We'll announce the winner in our next newsletter, out in early December. Conventional wisdom suggests that most of our favorite plants are also the favorites of our four-legged friends.…

If I had to choose a favorite fall shrub it would be callicarpa dichotoma, also known as beautyberry. Its arching branches with opposite leaves      (meaning the leaves are symmetrically placed on the branch instead of placed in alternate sequence like most plants) are graceful, elegant. Add      to that elegance a compact cluster of berries that appears on the branches in summer and becomes purple in early fall, and you have a standout    plant.  Callicarpa is…

Here’s why I love this book and will be giving away two copies signed by the author. First, it has a novel rating system for plants that gives a more nuanced view of the subject. A rating of 10 is the most deer resistant, but Ruth Rogers Clausen also includes plants with ratings of 7, 8 and 9, and tells you what level of (minor) nibbling you might expect if you choose those plants. Plants below a 7 are considered…

I first saw a climbing Black-Eyed-Susan (genus thunbergia) at The NY Botanical Garden. I had heard it is an easy vine to grow and is best started from seed. In fact, I wasn't able to find it as a potted plant at any of my local garden centers, so I had no choice but to start it from seed. I decided it must be a sleeper because I couldn't find the seeds at my garden centers…

Smith College, my alma mater, has a vibrant and lush botanical garden that attracts people from all around the world. It features a collection of over 10,000 living plants on the campus as well as 60,000 pressed specimens. If you ever find yourself around the Northampton, Massachusetts area, you should stop and visit. It's free and offers a chance to see a spectacular arrangement of trees, flowers and plant life. To learn more about the Botanic Garden of Smith College,…

Transplanting young seedlings that were grown inside your home to a garden outside can be a traumatic experience that places their health and well-being in jeopardy. You have to realize that outdoor environments bring fluctuating temperatures, rain, wind and intense humidity. If the seedling isn't prepared for conditions such as these, there's a good chance they won't take to their new outdoor environment. The good news is that you can harden off seedlings beforehand to make the transition smoother and…

Lilac (genus: Syringa) is a deciduous shrub that's most known for its pleasing fragrance and lilac colored flowers. There are literally hundreds of different varieties of lilacs, ranging in color from deep purple and lilac (hence the name), to white and pink. And from pleasingly fragrant, to not at all fragrant, to downright unpleasant smelling (Japanese tree lilac).  Often when purchasing a lilac the blooms are not open, so it's impossible to tell whether it will be fragrant, and what…

Ramps (Allium tricoccum) are a type of early blooming onion that grow in the soil-rich deciduous forests of North America. They can be found in high concentrations along the eastern U.S. where the Appalachian Mountains run, as well as the eastern Canadian province of Quebec. Here we'll take a closer look at ramps and reveal some of their many uses and properties. Some Interesting Facts About Ramps You might be surprised to…

Some plants and flowers emit a foul-smelling odor that's difficult to be around. Skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus) is one such type of perennial wildflower that's notorious for its pungent odor, particularly if you bruise or break off a leaf.  Some people compare it to rotten meat.  But like most plants, there are both advantages and disadvantages to growing skunk cabbage. Appearance and Physical Characteristics Skunk cabbage begins to blossom in the early spring months. It's most…

Earlier this month, I had the privilege of visiting George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate in the beautiful State of Virginia. (I had not been there since 8th grade!)  This historic landmark was Washington's home as well as his resting place, and is the most visited historic home in America.  Over the years, it has been well preserved by The Mount Vernon Ladies' Association so tourists may come and learn history and marvel at its beauty. While there were many breathtaking structures…