Here's some interesting information which was sent to me via email last week.  I think its interesting reading.

A new way to look at our food.  Clues as to what foods help what part of our body!  Amazing!

 A sliced Carrot looks like the human eye. The pupil, iris and radiating lines look just like the human eye - and YES, science now shows carrots greatly enhance blood flow to and function of the eyes.

 A Tomato has four chambers and is red. The heart has four chambers and is red. All of the research shows tomatoes are loaded with lycopine and are indeed pure heart and blood food.

 Grapes hang in a cluster that has the shape of the heart. Each grape looks like a blood cell and all of the research today shows grapes are also profound heart and blood vitalizing food.

 A Walnut looks like a little brain, a left and right hemisphere, upper cerebrums and lower cerebellums.  Even the wrinkles or folds on the nut are just like the neo-cortex. We now know walnuts help develop more than three (3) dozen neuron-transmitters for brain function.

 Kidney Beans actually heal and help maintain kidney function and yes, they look exactly like the human kidneys.

 Celery, Bok Choy, Rhubarb and many more look just like bones. These foods specifically target bone strength. Bones are 23% sodium and these foods are 23% sodium. If you don't have enough sodium in your diet, the body pulls it from the bones, thus making them weak. These foods replenish the skeletal needs of the body.

Avocados, Eggplant and Pears target the health and function of the womb and cervix of the female - they look just like these organs. Today's research shows that when a woman eats one avocado a week, it balances hormones, sheds unwanted birth weight, and prevents cervical cancers. And how profound is this?  It takes exactly nine (9) months to grow an avocado from blossom to ripened fruit. There are over 14,000 photolytic chemical constituents of nutrition in each one of these foods (modern science has only studied and named about 141 of them).

Figs are full of seeds and hang in twos when they grow. Figs increase the mobility of male sperm and increase the numbers of Sperm as well to overcome male sterility.

Sweet Potatoes look like the pancreas and actually balance the glycemic index of diabetics.

Olives assist the health and function of the ovaries.

Oranges, Grapefruits, and other Citrus fruits look just like the mammary glands of the female and actually assist the health of the breasts and the movement of lymph in and out of the breasts.

Onions look like the body's cells. Today's research shows onions help clear waste materials from all of the body cells. They even produce tears which wash the epithelial layers of the eyes. A working companion, Garlic, also helps eliminate waste materials and dangerous free radicals from the body. 
   
Again, just some interesting reading, that definitely adds a little "food for thought".  Our good friend Rita has been talking about this for years.  Of course, she's always been on the cutting edge!

  

 Sweetbay Magnolia                 Southern Magnolia

If you would like to add a little taste of the south to your garden, I've got a couple hardy plants that have southern landscapes written all over them.  Magnolia virginiana, or commonly known as "Sweetbay Magnolia".  Now although this magnolia gets 50 feet plus in the south, it's usual size in our area ranges around 15-25 feet tall and about 10-15 feet wide.  Sweetbay magnolia has a nice lustrous green laurel type leaf, and can be semi-evergreen.  You'll see it growing single stem or multi-stemmed like this one, and eventually forms a loose, open, upright habit.  But it's these wonderfully lemon scented creamy white late spring flowers that makes this magnolia a gem in the garden.  And although it's a late spring bloomer, watch for flowers appearing off and on throughout the summer.
  Magnolia grandiflora, or commonly known as "Southern Magnolia".  You'll easily recognize the Southern Magnolia with its shiny dark green evergreen leaves, which by the way can get 5-10 inches long.  Over time Southern Magnolia can reach 40 feet plus in height and 15-20 feet wide.  But again, it's the creamy white beautifully fragrant flowers in late spring that make this southern lady a real charm in the landscape.  By the way, in the southern Ohio area, Bracken's Brown Beauty has proven to be one of the hardier selections of Southern Magnolias for southern Ohio.
  Now on both the Sweetbay and Southern Magnolia, their wonderful flowers will develop into a very attractive seed head, late fall, and will be loaded with bright red seeds - which adds great late fall character to the landscape, can be used in arrangements or Holiday decorations, or becomes a great way to feed the birds naturally.

Oakleaf Hydrangea

     

Kong Coleus Red             Kong Coleus Rose         Kong Coleus Mosaic


The first plant for you to ponder, is actually planted just to the right of our front door, and right now, it is absolutely spectacular!  Dark green oak like leaves, chocolate brown peeling bark, about 4 1/2 feet tall by 4 1/2 feet wide - that's appealing in itself - but right now this plant is absolutely covered with long, cone shaped, brilliant white (and lightly fragrant) flowers, which over time, will fade to a light brown, and still remain attractive.  My plant is Hydrangea quercifolia 'Snow Queen', commonly known as 'Snow Queen' Oakleaf Hydrangea.  By the way, did I mention it turns a wonderful burgundy red for the fall?  Grows in sun or shade - easy to care for.  Definitely one of my favorites, as it rates being planted by the front door for all to see - especially me!  (Sorry I can't add pictures to this column.)

   

Diablo Ninebark          Crimson Pygmy Barberry

 

Wine and Roses Weigela              Coral Bells


 

Japanese Maple                                         Royal Purple Smoke Tree

 

Forest Pansy Redbud                            Black Lace Elderberry

How would you like to add some purple and maroon colors to jazz up your landscape?  If so, here are a few plants you may want to consider:
 
-'Diablo' ninebark - a rounded shrub, gets 6-8 feet tall, wonderful bark, very nice clusters of creamy white flowers in late spring, and of course, this very showy red-purple foliage.  This is a tough and durable shrub for the landscape.
 
-Crimson Pygmy Barberry - one of my favorite low mounding shrubs, naturally stays 24-30 high and wide, great for low hedging or border plant - and yes, outstanding red-purple foliage.  And look at Little Ruby - same plant, just stays a bit more compact.
 
-Wine and Roses Weigela - this shrub can reach 3-4 feet high and wide, rosey pink spring flowers which show up off and on during the summer, and again, beautiful  burgundy purple foliage.  Also look at Midnite Wine for a smaller version.
 
-Coral Bells - so many purple to maroon colored coral bells to choose from - this low growing evergreen perennial has become a favorite in perennial gardens, especially with all the maroonish shades of leaf colors.
 
-Japanese maples - so many selections to choose, that will provide a variety of shades of red and maroon foliage in the garden - a wonderful smaller specimen tree.
 
-Royal Purple Smoke tree - here's an unusual multi-branched very large shrub or small tree, growing about 10-15 feet tall and wide, has very attractive rounded dark purple foliage, which later in the season, will be topped with wisps of smoky pink plumes.
 
-Forest Pansy Redbud - yes, redbud - grows the same as the regular redbud, has deep rose pink flowers in the spring, but its this foliage that makes Forest Pansy a standout.  Starts out with red-purple foliage, turns burgundy purple thru the summer, and then a maroon green by fall. 
 
-And one of my favorite plants for in ground or in containers - Black Lace Elderberry.  Multi-stemmed, grows about 6 feet by 6 feet, clusters of pink flowers late spring with small edible elderberries, and look at this foliage.  Almost a black burgundy color - and I love the texture and shape of the leaves - tough, durable, and again, grows great in the ground or in containers!
 
There you go - 8 great plants to add a little purple or maroon to help jazz up your landscape.

ANOTHER LILAC IN BLOOM!  Just when you thought the lilacs were finished blooming for the spring, another one steps up to the plate.  But this one, is a tree!  Its Syringa reticulata,  or commonly known as 'Japanese Tree Lilac".  And unlike its shrubby cousin lilacs, this one grows like a tree.  As a matter of fact, Japanese Tree Lilac has become a very popular small to medium sized tree for the landscape (gets about 20 - 30 feet in height) and is perfect for smaller yards, closer to the home, group or specimen plantings, or as a street tree.  As a matter of fact, it has become very high on the list for great candidates for possible street tree plantings.
 
Japanese Tree Lilac is upright growing at first, eventually becoming a bit more oval with age.  It has the large dark green leaves, typical of lilacs, same bark as many lilacs, and like most lilacs, really not much as far as fall color.  And unlike other lilacs, Japanese Tree lilac is fairly resistant to powdery mildew, scale and borers.
 
But it's those lilac flowers that really put on quite a show in late spring.  6-12 inches long, creamy white, quite a few all around the plant, they last about 2 weeks or so, and are usually blooming when not many other trees are.  And what a show they're putting on for this of the year!  By the way, just like the cousin lilacs, this flower has a fragrance as well.  But it's not the smell of the lilac you're used to - it's sort of like the flower of the old privet plant.  Some people like it, some just admire it from afar.  Personally, I like it.  That's Japanese Tree Lilac.

   

Diablo Ninebark          Dwarf Korean Lilac          Tropical Hibiscus

Have your 'shrub' and 'tree' it too!  If you'd like have the shrub and tree it too, then I've got a couple plants you just might want take a look at!  How about tropical Hibiscus.  Comes in all sorts of colors - great foliage - loves the sun and summer heat - the perfect plant for those containers on your deck or patio.  And, if you'd like it in a shrub form, no problem.  You'll find them in all sizes, growing like a shrub.  And if you'd like a tree look, no problem.  Same plant, just growing like a small tree.
 
Dwarf Korean Lilac - one of the most popular smaller medium sized flowering shrubs in the landscape.  They just finished flowering, and what a show they put on this spring with their slightly fragrant lavender blossoms.  But, you say you'd like a dwarf tree that has the same great characteristics?  Well, here you go.  Dwarf Korean Lilac, tree form!  Basically, it's the shrub, grafted on a single stem, to give you the same plant, but looking like a tree.  Little or no pruning required, this one is consistent for every spring flowers - and now, as a smaller ornamental tree.
 
And about 'Diablo' Ninebark?  Great maroon foliage, interesting bark, and wonderful button clusters of creamy pink flowers.  A great flowering shrub that reaches 8-10 feet tall, yet easily controlled at a smaller size by cutting back every spring.  Say what?  You'd like to see that in a tree from?  Here you go!  Diablo, tree form.  Same wonderful shrub, but now grafted on a trunk to be used as a small tree.  And that ornamental peeling bark is a show all by itself!  This is also a great shrub to use as a substitute for Cistena plum.

   

Snow Pinks                          Snow Hill Salvia             Iris


      

Dianthus                         Blue Indigo               Geranium                Diablo Ninebark

   

Tiger Eye Sumac                      Fernleaf Buckthorn      Black Lace Elderberry

This time of the year, it is so hard to pick just one plant for you to ponder!  I mean, look at all the great perennials showing their brilliances right now.  For example: 

 

Sea Pinks or Sea Thrift - long linear leaves, clumping growth, this sun loving evergreen perennial gives the garden a great show with these early pink or white flowers.
 
Salvia - what a show of colors from this perennial salvia!  Snowhill with its wonderful white spike like flowers, and May Night, Perennial of the Year in 1997, with an outstanding show of indigo-blue flower spikes.
 
Iris - with its very distinctive sword like upright foliage, topped with wonderful flowers, great for cutting.  And don't forget Variegated Iris, with great flowers and wonderful variegated foliage.
 
Dianthus - or sometimes called Cheddar Pinks, nice compact tight evergreen foliage, topped off with  florescent colorful flowers - Neon Star - and Firewitch, the 2006 Perennial of the Year - great color, reblooms, and actually has a fragrant clove scent.
 
Baptisia - or sometimes called Blue Indigo - and look at  'Purple Smoke' - great pea- like blue green foliage, grows in sun or partial shade, and those eye catching late spring flowers.  Now that is a real show!
 
And there is the 2008 Perennial of the Year - Geranium 'Roxanne' - a mounding low growing evergreen perennial, perfect for low borders, groundcover, rock gardens - and once they start flowering, they just keep on going all season long.  Sun to partial shade, tolerates the heat, blooms all summer - definitely one of the best perennial geraniums available for the garden, and a great choice for the 2008 Perennial of the Year.  And did I mention it's not a favorite of deer or rabbits?  Now that's pretty rare!

 

I'm also liking the looks of 'Diablo' Ninebark right now with that maroon foliage, upright growth, and those pink to white clusters of flowers.  Grows 8 feet tall, upright, loves the sun, and adds great foliage colors to the landscape.

 

Of course, so will good ole Tiger Eye's Sumac with that tropical sumac foliage that just seems to get more yellow as the summer goes along.  And don't forget 'Blacklace' Elderberry.  Unique cutleaf foliage, maroon red, pink flowers, and great in the ground or in containers.  Love that plant!

 

Okay, one more.  Fernleaf Buckthorn - another upright grower, 10 -12 feet, fine textured fern like foliage, and creamy white flowers (black to red berries).  This is a great wispy look for the landscape in a larger growing shrub.     That's it! 

'Drift Roses' will also be available around mid April.  So, what is so unique about these roses?  Drift roses are a series of groundcover roses, zone 5 hardy, reaching 2 feet by 2-3 feet wide, show good disease resistance, low maintenance, flower all season long, and are perfect for mass plantings, rock gardens, foundations - even work well in containers and hanging baskets.  Coral, peach, pink and red are the colors - look for Drift roses this spring!

This week, there are so many plants we would love to highlight due to Mother's Day, its hard to chose!  One plant that is getting ready to flower, which always provides a great spring show of colors as well as nice season-long foliage, is Iris sibirica, or Siberian Iris.  Early to mid season bloom, slender leaves which add a nice vertical effect in the landscape or perennial bed, and the flowers are absolutely wonderful!  'Caesar's Brothers' is one of the most popular, with its very showy dark purple flowers, but you'll also find other selections including lavendar pinks and whites.  These also make a great cutting flower.

Looking for a wonderful ornamental "specimen" tree?  Then look no further than the wonderful selections of Japanese maples!  One of the most common, would be Acer palmatum 'Bloodgood' with it's deep reddish purple leaf, and fairly consistent color retention.  Not a fast grower, this selection can reach heights of 15 -20 feet.  In addition to the seasonal leaf show, the fall colors of Bloodgood intensify into a more solid red color.  Tough, durable, and great leaf color makes this one the most popular sold in the trade.

    In addition to 'Bloodgood', you will find many, many, many other selections of Japanese maples ranging in all shapes and sizes (heights and widths), barks ranging from green to brown to reddish maroons, and leaves ranging from reddish to variegated to lime green, as well as lobed, cut and lace-leafed (dissected) selections.  One of my favorites would be the green cutleaf (dissected) selections of Japanese maples, usually referred to as 'Virdis'.  I just love that look! 

Redbuds in our area are budded and beginning to bloom. Lavender

Twist Redbuds are no exception. This unique variety of Redbud has

similar traits to traditional redbuds including the spring flowers.

However, it is unique in its form. It is a lovely weeping form with

contorted branches. The unusual look of this tree makes it well

suited for a specimen tree.

 

Lavender Twist Redbuds (Cercis ‘Covey’) are easily grown in

average, medium moisture and well-drained soils. It prefers full sun

to part shade and performs best with regular and consistent

moisture.

 

We have a great selection of Lavender Twist Redbuds in 20 gallon

and 25 gallon containers. Their height varies depending upon how

they were trained. 3-4ft plants make a great addition to small

gardens. Taller plants make an impact in larger sites

This week, let's ponder an ornamental tree that offers something for every season.  In the spring, just after the bright green leaves have appeared, sweet smelling white flowers develop (racemes about 3-6 inch long) filling the tree with wonderful lacey clumps of spring color.  After the flowers are finished, many develop into a small fleshy red fruit, which is eaten quickly by the birds.  Then, something very unusual happens to this tree.  Those bright green leaves begin to darken, turning a wonderful maroon-red, and remain that way for the rest of the season, making Canada Red Cherry, one of my favorite ornamental trees.  25-30 feet or so in height, and 15-20 feet in width, these trees are available in single trunk and multiple trunks.  Note:  Some Canada Red Cherries will send up suckers around the base of the trunks.  If that happens, prune them out, or treat with Sucker Stopper.  Prunus v. 'Shubert' or commonly known as Canada Red Cherry.  A great ornamental tree for you to ponder.

Blue Mouse Ears is one of the most popular new 'mini' hostas.  Maturing out at 6 inches tall and 12 inches wide, has distinctive, thick substance, small round blue-green leaves, and supports little bouquet of lavender flowers reaching around 6 to 8 inches tall.  A  fast grower to a tight, compact mound - is perfect for shady rock gardens, as a specimen, and for containers.  Rumored to be a bit more slug resistant.   *Chosen by the American Hosta Growers

Commonly known as Black Tupelo, Black Gum, Sour Gum,  this large growing tree (35-50'), hardy in zones 4-9, is definitely one of the most beautiful native trees around.  Usually somewhat pyramidal when young, with age, some tops may open up and become more horizontal forming an irregularly rounded or flat-topped crown - although some may retain the upright oval shape.  Dark green leaves changing to bright yellow to orange to scarlet to purple in fall.  Small yellow flowers in spring (polygamo-dioecious), bluish black fruit in fall (not messy), and dark gray to brown black bark.  Prefers moist well drained soils, but tolerant of drier conditions.  This tree is an excellent specimen tree, possible choice for street trees, and great for naturalizing.   *Chosen by the Society of Municipal Arborists

Coral Bells (Above)

 

Spring has sprung, but the weather keeps going back and forth from cold to warm.  So,  if you're ready to plant a few container gardens to start adding a little color to your deck or patio, but not sure what will take these temperature fluctuations, here's are a few plants to consider!  There are several plants, both annual and perennial, that are very cold hardy, and will give your containers great color early spring through late fall, especially when planted together for a combination planter.  In the cold tolerant annual category, you'll find:

 

 -Stock / tough annual, great colors, and wonderful fragrant blooms

-Snapdragons / again great colors

-Nemesia / small but very profuse flowers

-Osteospermum /  great foliage and flowers

-Alyssum / low growing and full of flowers

-Dusty miller / great silvery foliage

 

   Again, all annuals that are very good at tolerating colder temperatures yet will flower all summer long and into the fall.  And don't forget perennials like:

 

-Primrose with early colors and attractive foliage

-Euphorbias of all types, some which flower but noted for their foliages

-Coral Bells / again a flowering perennial, yet really outstanding with many colors of foliage - again these foliage colors last all season long.

-Many grasses are available, as well as colorful sedges.

-And don't forget pansies (biennials) with great spring colors, and very cold tolerant.  Sub these out later with a summer annual.

 

  Put these cold tough plants together and you can have an assortment of wonderful combination planters, that will tolerate the ups and downs of spring temperatures, last all summer, and keep right on going - all the way into fall.

'Drift Roses' will also be available around mid April.  So, what is so unique about these roses?  Drift roses are a series of groundcover roses, zone 5 hardy, reaching 2 feet by 2-3 feet wide, show good disease resistance, low maintenance, flower all season long, and are perfect for mass plantings, rock gardens, foundations - even work well in containers and hanging baskets.  Coral, peach, pink and red are the colors - look for Drift roses this spring!

'Rozanne' has been chosen due to its strong performance in the garden.  This very hardy geranium, which grows best in full sun to partial shade, shows off its 2 ˝ inch iridescent violet-blue saucer shaped flowers with purple -violet veins and radiant white centers beginning late spring and continues to flower thru mid fall.  Hardy zones 5-8, 24 x 24 inches, prefers moist well drained soils, may be used as ground cover or as an attractive specimen plant.  Perfect for patio containers, window boxes, and hanging baskets.  *Chosen by the Perennial Plant Association