All the Dirt on Gardening

Using plants with scented flowers, leaves and stems adds another reason to go outside, even on the hottest days. Of course, we think of Lilacs, Mockorange, Roses, and Flowering Tobacco but there are so many more that add to the experience of being out in the yard, on a patio, or in public gardens.  Many annual, perennial, woody and herbaceous plants call out to be touched. It is irresistible to reach out and touch Basil, Borage, Lavender, and Parsley, or, to stop and smell Pine, Mint,  Jasmine, Rosemary, Alyssum, Dianthus, and Thyme.  And, the scent of spring bulb flowers such as Hyacinths, Daffodils and Fritillaria all make us bend to their height. Several scented plants bloom only at night and are pollinated by moths. Datura is a favorite because it begins to unfurl late in the afternoon and will bloom while you stand there for a few minutes.  The visually impaired and children are drawn to a scented garden. Sometimes new hybrids of old fashioned plant...

Yesterday at the annual Oklahoma Urban Forestry Conference, several trees were recommended that we commonly forget about or do not know about. Here is a selection of recommendations with links to more information. Every one of these has beautiful features whether it is catkins, flowers, fall color, or bark. If you are considering planting something unique, check these out! Acer saccharum, Fall Fiesta Sugar Maple   Information Acer truncatum, Purple Blow Maple, Shantung Maple  Information Aesculus, Buckeye. Look for A. Glaba, Bottlebrush Buckeye   Information Asimina triloba, Pawpaw hybrids   Information on several hybrids Castanea mollissima, Chinese Chestnut Information Carpinus betalus, Hornbean Information Chionanthus retusus, Chinese Fringe tree, American Fringe tree. Information here Corylus avellana, European Filbert, Harry Lauder's walking stick  Information Cotinus obovatus, Smoke Tree Information Magnolia...