Welcome to a New Look!

 With spring less than two months away, we are launching our new blog site. We will resume regular postings, and posts will cover a wider range of topics. We will continue to discuss Appalachian cooking and growing the heirloom vegetables that add authenticity. Our gardening coverage will expand to include ornamental plants, with a strong--but not exclusive--emphasis on plants that are native to the region.

The photo, taken a couple of days ago, shows Crocus chrysantha interplanted with Sedum 'Angelina.' Several sedums are valuable for winter color, and Angelina is among the best, in our view. 

Complementing the foliage color of the sedum, the crocus is among the earliest to bloom of all the spring bulbs.

Both these plants thrive in full sun in the well-drained, lean soil around the perimeter of our garden pond.

Once the weather warms up, the sedum will assume a more familiar light green color, while the crocus will go dormant to escape summer heat. Both plants are widely available in the nursery trade.