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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 a single species!Ordinarily, pigs and rabbits are two of the absolute worst visitors one could imagine in the garden. The rabbits will polish off everything above ground, while the pigs will root, root, root for what’s left.We think you’ll be glad you made an exception for two of our favorite floral fauna. Miniature Fountain Gras

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 resembl

Welcome to 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.Echinacea: This popular native genus is so named because its spiky central seed cone reminded a botanist of the echidna, a.k.a. the spiny anteater. A quirky animal from Down Under, the echidna has spikes like a porcupine and lays eggs like a bird.That critter’s namesake perennial, a.k.a. coneflower, has burst out in in a stagger

Meet our September Rock StarAbout the Rock Star AwardOur Rock Star award honors ECG employees who demonstrate a sustained high level of performance and inspire others.This month we honor Jonah Camp.Jonah came on board in 2017 as general greenhouse labor and rose to the position of assistant perennial grower at the Milton farm. He lives on site and is a night watchman in addition to his plant care duties.Jonah’s manager and colleagues had lots of good things to say about this young man, especiall

GARDENS OF THE GODSArtemisia(Wormwood)Artemis, Greek goddess of the hunt, was the daughter of Zeus and the twin sister of Apollo. Often depicted with bow and arrow, she drove a chariot pulled by golden-horned stags.None of which explains why a genus of soft, silvery perennials, medicinals and annuals is named for her. Or even if it is: Some say the name honors Artemisia II of Caria, a botanist, doctor and queen of Anatolia in the 4th century BC. Take your pick!Artemisia encompasses tarragon (A.