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Opuntia: Articles from The Editorial Side

The Plants of Union Way

The Plants of Union Way

Have you noticed a trend of stylish shops with stylish plants on display? I'm seeing a lot of good plants in new places, and I like it. My stepfather was stationed in Germany when he was in the military, and always remembers coming across a sign which read "Grün ist...

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a quick hello

a quick hello

Greetings gardeners. I'm giving the gray matter a wee rest this week, so I don't have a story for you. I know, hard to believe. Instead, I thought I'd share a few pictures of plants behaving themselves in the late summer garden. Have you noticed when you focus...

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Tiny Garden

Tiny Garden

Happy September! This is my absolute favorite month. All the big leaved plants are peaking. Trees and shrubs start pushing new growth. The weather gets more cooperative for digging, moving, planting. And we're bathed in golden diffused sunlight at the end of each day....

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plants that go bang, for you buck

plants that go bang, for you buck

I can't tell you how many times people have gone gaga over the lowest priced plant in the garden. Isn't it funny, how you can moon over some rare and expensive plant. And then you finally add it--just to have peeps push past to rave about some inexpensive annual...

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the Sea of Juniper is filling in

the Sea of Juniper is filling in

Just a bit over a year ago, I had the vision of someday removing the giant swath of Juniper we inherited with our Flamingo Park House. The "Sea of Juniper" was some 12' wide and 40' long. Apparently, back in the 60s and 70s, people got the notion that mass planting...

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The Hot Bed is Alive

The Hot Bed is Alive

Is it just me, or is everyone surprised beyond pieces that the garden resurrects each year? It's so exciting to see there are actually plants growing out there. I planted several Tetrapanx papyrifer this past fall that came from Ron Wagner before he moved to...

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I go out walking…

I go out walking…

One of my very favorite things to do is to walk a new neighborhood. Be it in my own city or one I’m visiting only briefly. There are always things to discover and they’re easier to see when you’re on foot… I am attracted to dark houses, they seem more grounded in the...

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plants en masse

plants en masse

  Mass planting has its place, as evidence by the Hakonechloa shown above in my previous garden. People couldn't resist petting it when they walked past. It was a such successful grouping, mentioned by Ms. Nestmaker way back when. I actually put that together,...

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