variegated plants

Jacob’s Ladder

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The English are masters of gardening and garden writing, but they tend towards dramatic understatement.  The Royal Horticultural Society, for example, described perennial polemonium as a plant that “often seeds itself around rather freely.”  Generally a statement like that means that the plant is prolific to the point of invasiveness and is best planted by … Read more

Jazz Bugles

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Never say “never” in the garden. It always comes back to haunt you. For years I swore that I would never buy carpet bugle or bugleweed—Aujga reptans—under any circumstances. After all, my property came with an abundant supply that has increased exuberantly over time. Every spring the blue-purple spires light up the entire back garden, … Read more