The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) has shared its list of 2024 Gold Medal Plant winners, now available to the public through most garden retailers. The Gold Medal Plant Program was created by PHS in 1979 to celebrate and showcase beautiful, easy-to-grow plant species that are ideal for home gardening. Each year, a committee of horticulture experts convenes to assess trees, shrubs, and perennials on various criteria including their suitability for home gardens in the mid-Atlantic region, their ease of cultivation, ready commercial availability, wildlife value, weather tolerance, and pest resistance.
ORCHIDS: CONSERVATION AND COLLABORATION, New Smithsonian Institute Exhibit Now Open
For centuries, orchids have brought us inspiration. Today, orchids also inspire conservation – the work to protect our environment for the future. The future of orchids is lush, bold, i inspiring, and something that we
can realize together. This year’s orchid exhibit at the Smithsonian Institute, The Future of Orchids : Conservation and collaboration takes visitors on a deep dive into the weird and wild world of orchids, highlighting large scale artworks that invite visitors to unexpected forms that entice pollinators, foster genetic diversity, and improve the plants’ ability to survive.
BLUESTARS SHINE IN MT CUBA’S TRIAL GARDEN
Mt. Cuba Center’s latest trial garden report is here! Amsonia of the Eastern Temperate Forest presents the results of a ten-year trial that evaluated 20 types of Amsonia, commonly known as bluestars. The report shows that Amsonia are attractive, long-lasting, and reliable plants that provide interest and beauty in the garden from spring through fall.
GROUNDCOVER RESEARCH TRIALS AT UDBG
In May of 2022, the University of DE Botanic Garden received funding for a three-year trial researching alternatives to commonly used invasive groundcovers. The study aims to identify and promote the use of alternative groundcovers to four commonly used invasive groundcovers, Hedera helix, Pachysandra terminalis, Vinca minor, and Lysimachia nummularia. They aim to stimulate both supply and demand of alternatives through education, and equip landscape professionals, master gardeners, and homeowners with viable non-invasive alternatives that perform well in a landscape setting.
SAVING SEEDS - AN INTRODUCTION TO THE BASICS
Do you save seeds? These days, more and more gardeners are interested in keeping seeds from the plants in their garden, but it’s a process that can be intimidating. Read excerpts from Lauren Davis’ recent article interview in the Washington Post (October 3, 2023) with Emily Murphy, regenerative organic gardener and author of “Grow Now: How We Can Save Our Health, Communities, and Planet — One Garden at a Time.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/home/2023/10/03/gardening-advice-harvest-preserve-seeds/