Today In the Garden - ONCE UPON A CONEFLOWER

Challenging Coreopsis

A threadleaf coreopsis on my bank, probably C. tripteris Gold Standard

Coreopsis or tickseed is a lovely flower, but it can be tricky to grow reliably for many of us. It is particularly frustrating when a variety doesn’t live up to expectations or dies out after just one season. To find out why, I dig into the backstory about why so many cultivars disappoint, and what to do about it.

I love the airy sprays of bright blooms on most coreopsis, but so many cultivars on the market today just don’t seem to last beyond a year or two. Blooming can be inconsistent and plants can die seemingly without warning. Yet I often see coreopsis gracefully thriving in other people’s gardens. Nurseries are full of them, so they are definitely popular despite sporadic performance. Why is that, and what am I missing here?

It turns out there are numerous reasons. Here’s what to know before you shell out for that captivating hybrid at the garden center this spring.

Foxy Moves

Our gardens may be asleep for the season but that doesn’t stop the local wildlife from trespassing, frolicking and going about business as usual. Besides the ever-present white-tailed deer we also have raccoons, skunks, opossums, feral cats and foxes parading through. After a recent snowfall, their tracks gave them away even if I didn’t see them.

The foxes are my favorite, though, and it’s clear from these photos why.

The Garden on A Winter Day

January 22, 2024 — It’s a good day for a stroll in the garden despite the fact that the mercury hasn’t climbed above freezing in nearly a week. But the cold and snow won’t last much longer. Rain and warming temperatures are in the forecast, so I want to make the most of today’s snowy scenes. By the time you read this, the snow will no doubt be gone.