Catherine Cooper

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Horticulture Women

Women Horticulturists

While many famous names in horticulture belong to men, throughout the centuries there have been many women who have made notable contributions to the various fields of botany, horticulture and garden design.  Some are well known, others not so, but all have contributed to the world of plants and gardening.

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coral bark japanese maple stems

Winter Bark

Winter in Massachusetts is the season when the landscape is relatively bare and color is mostly restricted to muted green and shades of brown and gray. However, despite a limited color palate in our vegetation, there are trees which become the stars of the winter landscape with their colorful and interesting bark. If you are looking to create a focal point in your garden during the winter months, here are some trees you could consider.

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Hanukkah salvia

Hanukkah salvia

In December a tour of garden centers will reveal swaths of bright poinsettias and other colorful houseplants to celebrate Christmas.  However, surveying all these plants, predominantly red in color, led

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Christmas Catus

Christmas Cactus

Holiday cactus, Thanksgiving, Christmas or Easter cactus, Zygocactus or Schlumbergera – what’s in a name?  Potentially confusion, if the naming of these cacti is anything to go by, but fortunately

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christmas bells

Holiday Plants Around the World

In the northern hemisphere there are a number of plants associated with the Christmas holidays.  Some were originally associated with earlier pagan traditions and include fir trees, holly, ivy and

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Poinsettia

December 12th is National Poinsettia Day, officially recognized in 2002 as a celebration of the holiday season’s most iconic plant, and honoring two men who played a major role in

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little girl in witch costume holding jack o lantern for candy

Halloween: A History

In the United States, Halloween as we now know it is predominantly a secular occasion, an evening of costumed participants, trick or treating, pumpkins and parties with a strong theme

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Chrysanthemums

If you would be happy for a lifetime, grow chrysanthemums. Chinese proverb Mums are everywhere in fall in New England, and while their cheerful masses of flowers brighten the shorter

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