foliage texture - Fine Gardening
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Design9 Foliage Plants You Can’t Live Without
When you rely on foliage over flowers, a plant rarely experiences a “down period.” The following are all plants that play an important role in my garden’s composition. See how…
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DesignThe Best of the Bee Balms
Every gardener has experienced love at first sight with at least one plant, but many of us have had more of a love-hate relationship with bee balm (Monarda spp. and…
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DesignThe Best New Hydrangeas
If you grew up on the East Coast as I did, you know that hydrangeas are an iconic plant. I dare anyone to visit Cape Cod in the summer and…
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DesignDesigning With Green
This ubiquitous color, when used well, can be just as exciting as vibrant flowers
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DesignA Gentle Approach to Planting on a Slope
When creating a new garden design, I first analyze existing elements to decide what works, what doesn’t, and why. Architectural and hardscaping elements are a good place to begin. When…
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Design12 Brilliant Astilbes
Astilbe, translated from Greek, means “without brilliance.” Maybe the wild astilbes that earned this dismissive genus name were drab, but today’s cultivars offer bright flowers, great foliage, and steadfast performance…
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DesignHow to Break Up the Sea of Green in the Garden
Janice Becker’s garden in Deerfield, Illinois, is an island of horticultural diversity in a neighborhood ruled by turf grass, mature trees, and occasional ground covers. She has created a plant…
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DesignThe Best of the Best Hostas
STATS Hosta spp. and cvs. USDA Hardiness Zones: 3–9 Conditions: Partial to full shade; moist, rich, well-drained soil Propagation: Division in spring or fall Problems: Deer, slugs, snails Who doesn’t…
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DesignSalvias That Won’t Let You Down
I’m lucky to live in Chicago—maybe not in February when we’re buried in snow, but in spring, it’s a different story. One of my favorite spots in the city is…
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DesignVines for the Connoisseur
Climbers add a depth and complexity to the garden that just can’t be achieved with perennials and shrubs. The sweeping flow and layered effects vines provide give a landscape a…
Fine Gardening Magazine
