Made in the Shade

With spring over our shoulder and summer squarely in our sights, we are greeted with new chapters of color in the anthology of flowering shrubs. Of special interest to this connoisseur of color are those beauties that brighten up the shady areas of life. On my walk this morning, I was greeted with a host of hydrangea- Lacecap, Oakleaf, and Mophead. Simply Superb! Although they enjoy some morning sun, they do their best work shaded from the searing hot overhead sun of the afternoon. Who can resist pausing for a refreshing glance at these soothing blue blooms. Enjoy!

Edible Planters

While in Jerusalem this January, I was delighted to savor early morning coffee while sitting amidst pansy-clad planters of fruiting citrus trees. Between sips, I pondered how this use of edibles as a source of both food and beauty has been part of the landscape since ancient times- dates, figs, pomegranates, olives to name a few. While our modern day ornamentals have earned their rightful place in our plant beds, introducing some edibles into your landscape this season is a delightful way to create a new connectivity to nature-and they taste good too! Blueberries are beautiful shrubs that offer 3 seasons of interest: small tubular flowers in spring, edible fruit in summer, and wonderful fall color.