Aster

Aster – A Little History and Some Growing Instructions Asters are native to many parts of the world especially the New World. They have been a cottage garden favorite for centuries because of their incredible colors and late summer and fall blooms. Thomas Jefferson loved the China aster varieties and cultivated many of them at Monticello. Breck noted in his 1851…

Armenian Basketflower

Armenian Basketflower – A Little History and Some Growing Instructions The Armenian Basketflower is a robust perennial which is probably native to Europe, Asia and the Mediterranean. It is also known as Giant Knapweed and its Latin name is Centaurea macrocephala which tells us that it is related to Bachelor Buttons and Cornflowers. The large yellow flowers and the base which…

Amaranthus

Amaranthus 
- A Little History and Some Growing Instructions Amaranthus comprises a family of about 60 species of annuals or short-lived perennials that were originally native to parts of South America, Africa and India. The plant was introduced into the United States during the 1700’s. In his 1851 book, The Flower Garden, Joseph Breck was already describing Amaranthus as “an…