Epimedium Excitement

Not long ago a friend called me with dramatic news about epimedium.  For those who might be wondering, this is a plant, not a medical condition.  Epimedium might occasionally induce euphoria, which is a psychological condition, but that is another story. Epimedium is, in fact, a shade-loving, spring bloomer that covers ground in a very … Read more

Bishop’s Hat

When is a barberry not a barberry?  When it is a bishop’s hat. And sometimes that bishop’s hat is also known as barrenwort, fairy wings or even horny goat weed.  In all cases, the plant in question is epimedium, a shade-loving, spring bloomer that covers ground in a very appealing way. When most of us … Read more

Barrenwort Bounty

Sometimes, no matter what you do, plants just die.  When it happens, you haul them out of the ground, consign them to the compost pile and ease on down the horticultural road.  Other times, you think a plant is dead and it makes a phoenix-like resurrection.  This happened to me two weeks ago.  The phoenix … Read more