Our Designers See

RANGOON CREEPER: A VINE TO SWOON OVER.

Q:   My wife wants to cover our fence with some kind of flowering evergreen vine that’ll grow quickly. However, she prefers something that no one else has, and she’s really into pinks and reds. Other than that, she’s not too picky. Any ideas? A:  I think I have the perfect…

RIPRAP DOESN’T DESERVE A BAD WRAP.

Q: I think it’s a bunch of rubbish (or should I say rubble) that our landscape architect is recommending riprap for our seawall. To me, riprap looks like a bunch of dirty rocks, and I can hardly believe I’m expected to pay for this stuff. Seriously? A: It’s easy to…

TIBOUCHINA LEPIDOTA?

Q: Can you tell me more about a plant called the glory bush? I remember my parents having one when I grew up, and I’d love to know how hardy they are. We live in Southwest Florida. A: The royal purple flowers of the Tibouchina lepidota, or glory bush, continually…

ARTISTREE’S TAKE ON MEXICAN PETUNIA: LOVELY BUT DON’T IGNORE IT.

Q: I’m being dead serious when I say I could even kill a silk flower. I can’t get anything to grow. I’m looking for a non-fussy plant that could grow in a contained area (along my stone wall) and provide some bright color. Does Mother Nature make anything in purple…