Juan D. Rivera started learning everything he could about plants, farming, livestock, and ecosystems at a young age. Since then, he’s earned a Master’s degree in wildlife biology (Universidad Iberoamericana, Ciudad de México) and a PhD in forestry (North Carolina State University), both with an emphasis on conservation farming and renewable technology. He has worked in planning crops for companies and workshops, as an educational consultant and writer.
The Dwarf Blue Rocky Mountain Fir, otherwise known as the Abies Lasiocarpa ‘Glauca Compacta’ or Alpine Fir ‘Green Globe’, Green Globe Alpine Fir, Rocky Mountain Fir ‘Green Globe’, Subalpine Fir ‘Green Globe’, is a rather…
The Dwarf Black Spruce, otherwise known as the Picea Mariana ‘Nana’ or Black Spruce ‘Nana’, Bog Spruce ‘Nana’, Swamp Spruce ‘Nana’, Dwarf Black Spruce, is a rather well known tree plant by gardening enthusiasts around…
The Yankee Point California Lilac, otherwise known as the Ceanothus Griseus Var. Horizontalis ‘Yankee Point’ is a pretty well known shrub plant by gardening enthusiasts around the world. Best known for its average maintenance and…
Every garden needs a showstopper—a plant that stops people mid-stride and makes them say, “Whoa, what is that?” For me, that role belongs to Crimson King Norway Maple. The first time I saw one, I…
Some plants whisper politely in the background. Others walk into the garden like they own the place. The moment I planted Horstmann’s Silberlocke Korean Fir, I knew it belonged to the second category. This evergreen…
Every garden has that one plant that quietly steals the show. For me, UpTick™ Cream & Red Coreopsis is exactly that plant. The first time I planted it, I didn’t expect much. I had a…
Some plants quietly sit in the garden. Others stride in like they own the place. The Calluna vulgaris ‘Valentina’, also known as Valentina Scotch Heather, definitely belongs to the second camp. The first time I…
The first time I brought home a Maranta leuconeura, I didn’t realize I was inviting a tiny tropical drama queen into my living room. One evening the leaves stood wide open like eager hands catching…
Every garden has that one plant that quietly steals the show. For me, that role belongs to the Iris pallida ‘Variegata’, often called the Variegated Sweet Iris. The first time I planted it, I expected…