Category Archives: Weekend Gardener
Moonflowers offer nighttime beauty in North Carolina gardens
By MIKE RALEY WPTF Weekend GardenerI must say from the outset that Melissa and I have never gotten around to planting a night-blooming anything. I have had to do some research on this little number. M...
Aug 19, 2025
'Naked lady' spider lilies bring surprise blooms
By MIKE RALEY WPTF Weekend GardenerEvery regular co-host on the WPTF Weekend Gardener has discussed with delight, at one time or another, the attributes of the "naked lady" spider lily or Lycoris radi...
Aug 17, 2025
Salvia: A colorful, hardy favorite for Carolina gardens
By MIKE RALEY WPTF Weekend GardenerEveryone should have some type of salvia in their landscape. Sage advice, I must say, if you like puns that is! Salvia also is known for its medicinal qualities for ...
Aug 10, 2025
Lantana: The sun-loving, pollinator-friendly powerhouse
By MIKE RALEY WPTF Weekend GardenerI have grown to love lantana. I never really had anything against it. It’s just the fact I haven’t had a lot of sun areas in my landscape and lantana can...
Jul 30, 2025
Crocosmia: From Sweet Melissa's grandparents to your garden
MIKE RALEY WPTF Weekend GardenerWe have enjoyed growing the very colorful Crocosmia-"montbretia" or "Coppertips"- a summer-blooming flower that reminds me of a miniature gladiola. Crocosmia grows from...
Jul 27, 2025
Black-Eyed Susan: A Cheerful Bloom From North Carolina to Norway
MIKE RALEY WPTF Weekend GardenerMelissa and I just returned from a trip to Norway where we traveled as far north as Myrdal, which is 3,000 feet above sea level and about 350 miles south of the Arctic ...
Jul 16, 2025
Serviceberry: A little-known native tree that birds (and gardeners) love
By MIKE RALEY WPTF Weekend GardenerRALEIGH, N.C. (WPTF) – Many years ago, my family and I were visiting relatives in Ohio in early April. On the way back home it snowed, although it did not stic...
Jul 01, 2025
Serviceberry: A little-known native tree that birds (and gardeners) love
By MIKE RALEY WPTF Weekend GardenerRALEIGH, N.C. (WPTF) – Many years ago, my family and I were visiting relatives in Ohio in early April. On the way back home it snowed, although it did not stic...
Jul 01, 2025
From Ditch Lilies to Showstoppers: Growing Daylilies in North Carolina
By MIKE RALEY WPTF Weekend GardenerOur loyal Weekend Gardener listener and friend Steve is the pot master of the universe when it comes to daylilies (Hemerocallis). You may have heard them referred to...
Jun 08, 2025
Meet Illicium: A Shade-Loving Shrub with Personality
By MIKE RALEYI can remember a time when there were few shade-loving shrubs from which to choose for the North Carolina landscape. In the early years of the "Weekend Gardener," Erv Evans or those who f...
May 20, 2025