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A perfect pair: morning glory, moon vine
May 23, 2013
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Growing separately on a trellis or fence, they are nice. Grown together they are much better. That is because this combination keeps the action going day and night.

Choose these plants now for summer arrangements
By NANCY BRACHEYBy Nancy Brachey | May 9, 2013
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In springtime, it isn’t hard for a gardener to pick a bouquet for the house. A stem or two of azalea, spiraea or rhododendron does the job quickly. But, come summer, we look to cut annuals and perennials to arrange in vases.

If you’re growing a vegetable garden in Charlotte, it’s time to get started
By Nancy Brachey | April 11, 2013
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For a city or suburban gardener – and especially one with limited time and experience – even a small plot 4-by-4 feet or 4-by-8 feet yields good results.

Divide perennials and see your garden multiply
By NANCY BRACHEYBy Nancy Brachey | April 4, 2013
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Divide summer- and autumn-flowering perennials such as Shasta daisies, black-eyed Susans, asters, coreopsis, chrysanthemums and Japanese anemones. These are long-lived, vigorous plants that will spread again over several years.

Enjoy Easter lilies after the holiday
By NANCY BRACHEY | March 28, 2013
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No potted plant seems to be appreciated so much as the Easter lily. With a little time and effort, the plant can become a permanent addition to a flower beds.

Spring starflower still surprises Charlotte gardeners
By NANCY BRACHEY | March 21, 2013
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Spring starflower has never quite made it to the A-list of most-adored plants. I would not want to go through March without it.

Small perennials for spring blooms
By NANCY BRACHEYBy Nancy Brachey | March 14, 2013
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A trio of small beauties deserve a bit of space in your flower beds, where they can charm and delight us, if only briefly.

Here's help for Piedmont gardeners
By Nancy Brachey | March 7, 2013
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These resources will help gardeners get ready for the spring growing season. They include seed and plant catalogs, websites that both sell and instruct, and a legion books on every aspect of gardening.

Variegated Solomon’s seal is a winner
By NANCY BRACHEY | February 28, 2013
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The Perennial Plant of the Year has proven itself to be of great worth, with tiny bell-shaped flowers among green leaves with white tips and margins.

Those pretty white flowers are star magnolia
By Nancy Brachey | February 25, 2013
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Star magnolia is one of those plants that one scarcely notices except in bloom, as it is now, and briefly in autumn for its fall foliage. But this plant is so pretty when it blooms – seemingly out of nowhere – in late February that one forgets its anonymity the rest of the year.

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Nancy Brachey
Nancy Brachey
Nancy Brachey writes about gardening for The Charlotte Observer's weekly Home & Garden section.
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