Posted by Rad Hajek on Feb 06 2026
This article was published a while ago in the winter/spring 2025 issue of NARGS magazine, the North American Rock Garden Society.
Since then, our sand bed finished 4 full seasons (4 winters) and it's about to finish it's fifth winter very soon. Winters are valuable data sources and crucial times at the same times. The winter 2024/2025 was quite harsh for us and so far the 2025/2026 winter is similar, if not worse. Both winters have solid cold, c… Read more
Posted by Rad Hajek on Dec 13 2025
Small’s Beartdtongue is one of the very showy native plants that deserves to be planted more. Can be common in some southeastern gardens, and unknow in others. ©US Perennials
Here in Indiana, it is often excluded by the native plant enthusiasts primarily because it’s not native to our area, but only to these southeastern states - both Carolinas, Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama (where it’s still rare).
Most likely it's also… Read more
Posted by Radovan Hajek on Feb 18 2025
Vigorous, tough, disease free, non-flopping, dense and really good ground covering, aromatic, completely deer and rabbit resistant, all summer flowering, heat and humidity tolerant and pollinator magnet!
And even when not flowering still highly ornamental native perennial!
Who wouldn't want that?
Pycnathemum muticum with Monarda sp. in naturalistic garden, designed and maintained by ©Andrew Marrs Garden Design
But nothing is ideal… Read more
Posted by Radovan Hajek on Feb 08 2025
It’s always wonderful and useful to visit gardens. To see how plants are combined, how the plant needs are met or not, or how the plants perform. If they are pushed to their limits, still manage and why so. How the growing strategies are knitted together, if the color palette tunes well. There’s always something new to discover and learn, even if you see mistakes or early stages of establishments.
I’ve traveled and visited many… Read more