North American Nature Vanguard
Boxwood shrubs are the classic evergreens of formal gardens. Their small, glossy leaves and dense branches can be clipped into crisp hedges, low edging, globes, cones and topiary, and they hold their shape for decades. They are also prized for being deer-resistant and for staying green through winter. Boxwoods belong to a genus of slow-growing … Read more
Yellow peppers are among the most popular types of peppers and they’re one of the most widely available. They are delicious and versatile alternative to red, green and orange peppers. Yellow peppers may have earthy, sweet, fruity, floral or smoky flavors and the spice levels will vary dramatically between cultivars ranging from mild, moderate to … Read more
Root color in plants is determined largely by pigments stored in the outer bark-like layer, the periderm, and sometimes in the inner tissue itself, with red and reddish hues typically arising from anthocyanins, betalains, or naphthoquinone compounds that the plant produces for reasons ranging from chemical defense to pollinator attraction elsewhere in the plant. Unlike … Read more
As the name suggests, red mushrooms are characterized by reddish hues. The shade of red can be from bright and vibrant red to more subdued or deep crimson. Red mushrooms have cap shape that can be convex, flattened, or even irregular in form. Some may have a wavy or contorted appearance. The gills, pores, or … Read more
Pink lilies are among the most romantic and widely grown flowering bulbs in the garden, spanning a color range from the palest blush to deep, saturated magenta and raspberry. Most pink lily types grow from bulbs planted 6 to 8 inches deep and send up a single upright stem reaching anywhere from 12 inches to … Read more
Yellow lilies bring a sunny, cheerful presence to the garden, ranging from pale lemon and honey tones to deep, saturated gold, and they are often chosen specifically to convey happiness, gratitude, and warmth. Most yellow lily types grow from bulbs planted 6 to 10 inches deep and send up a single upright stem reaching anywhere … Read more
Nature is a master architect, and among its most elegant recurring designs is the bell-shaped flower. Graceful, nodding, and often richly colored, bell-shaped blooms have evolved independently across dozens of plant families, appearing in habitats as diverse as alpine meadows, tropical rainforests, woodland floors, and coastal cliffs. Their distinctive tubular-to-flared form is not merely decorative … Read more
Few flowers command attention quite like the peony. With its layers upon layers of silky, ruffled petals arranged in a lush, rounded bloom, the peony has been celebrated in art, literature, and horticulture for thousands of years. It has been cultivated in China for over 2,000 years, where it was known as the “king of … Read more
The tulip is one of the most iconic flower forms in the world — an elegant, upright cup of smooth, overlapping petals that has captivated gardeners, artists, and traders for centuries. Originally native to Central Asia and the mountainous regions of Turkey and Iran, tulips were introduced to Europe in the 16th century and sparked … Read more
Few flower forms are as universally beloved as the daisy. With its cheerful ring of petals radiating outward from a central disc, the daisy shape is one of the most recognizable in the plant kingdom. This classic form — known botanically as a radiate flower head — appears across hundreds of plant species spanning dozens … Read more