It is highly likely that as camellia shows occur throughout the country, the Frank Houser and Variegated Frank Houser will be the ones getting the wows. I would be so bold as to say look for some of them around the winner's table.

It seems that for one reason or another the camellia industry has been associated with heroes and those with a ...Read more

After the Polar Vortex visit, it left many of us thinking about life in the tropics or at the bare minimum longing for summer, gardening, and splashing in the pool. In reality, it will not be long until the backyard becomes our corner of paradise, our secret garden if we add a few tropical plants.

The tropical style garden is about an attitude ...Read more

If you have found yourself down on heuchera or coral bells then I would like to urge you to give them a new cool season shot. All heuchera species are native to the United States but many of us judge the plant's performance in July's hot, summer sun, which is definitely not their friend; they are really more acclimated to a shady or filtered ...Read more

Sometimes I am amazed at the sheer beauty of the cool season garden. The temperatures have pushed us a little closer to the fireplace the past few days but outside it is the 'wonderful world of color'. Pansies, violas, dianthus, heuchera are just a few of the plants giving us a riotous show of color right now. My eyes however immediately go to ...Read more

The EverColor series of sedges is growing and all are proving to be ideal component plants in mixed containers. They are so dynamic they have the ability to be standalone or monoculture plants in tall European urns, olive jars or modern containers like I have at my house. In the landscape, however, they offer not only color by that fine leaf ...Read more

One year after retiring from the University of Georgia's Coastal Georgia Botanical Gardens in Savannah I find myself desperately missing cactus. I know what you are thinking if The Garden Guy is writing about cactus, we must get our affairs and lives together as this is a sure sign of the coming apocalypse.

To be honest a hot new vegetable ...Read more

This time of the year garden writers all over the country try to reach readers with ideas of New Year's resolutions. Over the years you may have seen topics like hire only licensed or certified landscape professionals, compost, recycle, go native, plant water-wise, all of which are super ideas. This year I really want to reach out to you with ...Read more

Lemon Lime is leading the way in what appears to be a nandina revival. It is one of four great nandinas found in the Southern Living Plant Collection. You'll find Flirt, Obession, Blush Pink, and the electrifying Lemon Lime.

Lemon Lime stands out in dramatic fashion with its chartreuse colored foliage. You can spot it a mile away. So, whether ...Read more

Candy Corn, a new spirea in Proven Winners Double Play series, may change any opinion you have regarding deciduous shrubs in mixed containers.

It is the foliage that demands your attention. The Proven Winners tag says it all, the foliage color is orange, red, yellow, and pineapple yellow. The flower color is a shade of purple.

My adventurous '...Read more

The beautiful Leslie Ann is a Camellia sasanqua that has had admirers bringing out their cameras for many years. It debuted in 1960, 58 years ago, thanks to nurseryman Ray Davis of Alabama. The next year in 1961 it won the coveted Ralph Peer Camellia sasanqua award. According to one website in Alabama it is one of two Camellias sasanqua to win ...Read more

Black Friday turned out to be a real shocker for me. It wasn't for store fighting, super discounts on large TV's or digital cameras but, instead, it was the rush to buy poinsettias. I was surprised that poinsettias made the 'lost leader' list, similarly, to the 39-cents-per-pound turkey at Thanksgiving. Secondly, I was just as shocked that the ...Read more

Currently western Georgia from Columbus to LaGrange is experiencing an explosion of color like many have never seen. Every maple species seems to be trying to outdo the next; as beautiful as they are, it is the Japanese maples that take your breath away. These small trees are ablaze with fiery red, orange, crimson, and yellow lending a tapestry ...Read more

There is nothing that adds a thrill to the winter landscape quite like conifers. Much to the chagrin of my wife I could be forever happy gardening among conifers. I love green selections, blue-gray varieties, and then there is nothing that causes my heart to race quite like the gold varieties. Then to add the magic I would like as many shapes ...Read more