Blog

Flights of Fancy in the Backyard Zoo!Don’t look now, but critters have taken root in your garden. Relax, they’re friendly – and they’re animals in name only. Let’s meet one... heck, make it two – in one plant! Aquilegia: Bird of prey, or bird of peace? The genus name comes from the Latin for eagle (aquila), because the long petal spurs reminded Linnaeus of an eagle’s talons. But the common name, columbine, is from the Latin for dove (columba), because someone else thought the flower resembled d

What comes to mind when someone says “groundcover?”First, you picture the two or three species you see everywhere. Next, you yawn. Right? Wake up and smell the coffee! Groundcovers don’t have to be the same old ho-hum stuff. There are fantastic choices in our perennial lineup. Let’s look at a couple. Iberis sempervirens ‘Purity’ Most of the year, this is a low-profile, semi-woody groundcover with small, leathery, dark green leaves. In early spring, when it smothers itself in clusters

In 1806, President Thomas Jefferson bought some real estate from France. The Louisiana Purchase involved a staggering 828,000 square miles – over half a billion acres, give or take.But nobody really knew what he had bought. Zillow was no help. So Jefferson sent Meriwether Lewis and William Clark to do a two-year walk-through.Among the many marvels they found was a succulent-leaved perennial called “bitter root” by natives. A river and a mountain range bear that name still. The newcomer was named

About the Rock Star Award Our Rock Star award honors ECG employees who demonstrate a sustained high level of performance and inspire others. Our latest honoree: Guadalupe Pérez, an important part of the production team at our Pensacola location. Guadalupe’s co-workers praise her diligence, work ethic, punctuality and reliability. Here’s what they had to say about her:“Guadalupe Pérez has wonderful character traits, which include being a reliable and great teammate. She is always willing to

Duranta erecta Cuban Gold™“Dewberry” is a tender, shrubby plant, perfect for containers or border edging. Its bright golden foliage makes it a shining standout among our “soft side” selections, enriching the scene wherever it’s deployed. Clustered light blue/lavender flowers appear in late summer and continue into fall. Tooth-edged leaves emerge green and segue rapidly through chartreuse to solid gold. Native to the Americas, from Mexico south, Duranta has been selected as a Tex