Mopa Mopa Plant: From Rainforest to Artwork

Welcome!

Welcome to This Month in the Garden! On a recent trip, I learned about yet another amazing plant and the fascinating history behind it. Mopa Mopa tree (scientific name Elaeagia pastoensis) is native to the higher elevation, humid rainforests in southwestern Colombia where the Andes meet the Amazon. Hardy in USDA zones 10-11, it can reach 13 to 32 feet in height and is very difficult to find or cultivate outside its native region. Mopa Mopa belongs to the Rubiaceae family, which is the same botanical family which includes coffee, and the resin of the tree is the essential material behind Barniz de Pasto, or Pasto varnish, one of Colombia’s most distinctive traditional art forms. 

Mopa Mopa Tree Artwork

The material prized by artisans is concentrated around the plant's developing leaf buds and shoots. A resinous substance accumulates around these tender growing portions, forming a protective coating. Harvesters pick the sticky leaf buds and shoots of the tree, then the material is heated in water, softened, worked and cleaned until all the unwanted plant material has been removed. As the remaining material is heated, it becomes soft, pliable and elastic. Traditionally the artisans would stretch it by hand or with their teeth into paper-thin, glowing sheets.

The Process (Photo Credit: The Mask Aruba)

Modern workshops now use mechanical methods for some portions of the process, but the fundamental knowledge remains similar. Considerable skill is required because the material must remain warm and flexible without becoming unusable. The resin can occur naturally in shades ranging from yellowish to green; however, once processed the colors can be amplified before being cut and inlayed onto carved wood objects. The artisan places the colored resin over a wooden object and cuts the material with a sharp knife. Extremely fine cuts can produce leaves, flowers, birds, animals, geometric forms and elaborate scrolling patterns. Although the finished objects may look like lacquer, Mopa Mopa is something quite different. 

Mopa Mopa Artwork

Mopa mopa is not a recent discovery. Archaeological and historical evidence indicates that related resins have been used by Indigenous peoples in the region for more than a thousand years. The material had a number of uses besides for decoration. Historical evidence indicates that Mopa Mopa and related resins could serve as adhesives, sealants and protective coatings. It was also used in other ceremonial and decorative applications. The art is not simply a reflection of decorative style. It represents the survival, evolution and knowledge surrounding a particular plant, its environment and its extraordinary physical properties. 

Mopa Mopa Artwork

Symbols & Colors: In Mopa Mopa artwork, each symbol and color has a meaning. While circles represent totality (earth, wind, fire and water), rebirth and wealth, tears symbolize the elimination of sorrow and pain, while flowers bring peace, love and tranquility. Yellow symbolizes the power of the sun, red is for wisdom, green represents nature and the color blue is the representation of the cosmos and air, bringing tranquility, peace and health. 

The Mopa Mopa tree faces serious threats of decline due to deforestation, regional development, and climate change in southwest Colombia and today very few master artisans remain. On December 16, 2020 the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization recognized the need to safeguard this tradition and declared Mopa Mopa art a "Cultural Heritage of Humanity". The story of the Mopa Mopa tree is a reminder that art can be forever intertwined with nature.

Connect With Me 🌼

It's time to plan your garden! Visit my Author Page 👈to learn about and purchase my books, each one focusing on different aspects of gardening, including landscape ideas, design principles, gardening by month for all-season interest, gardening tips and maintenance, shade gardening, gardening inspiration, indoor gardening and more. 

Also, check out my newsletter Northeastern Gardening News for monthly updates all to do with gardening! It's free to subscribe or you can pledge a donation to show support for my work, or upgrade to receive extra perks monthly right into your inbox!

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Until we Meet Again...Happy Gardening!

Author: Lee Miller @A Guide to Northeastern Gardening, © Copyright 2026. All rights reserved.

This Month in the Garden-The Blizzard of 2026: When Winter Rewrote the Record Books!

This Month in the Garden

Welcome to This Month in the Garden! During the days before, the temperatures had finally started to rise after several weeks. The snow had almost completely melted from the previous storm and signs of spring were evident, as the lawn was once again visible and hyacinths could be seen emerging from their winter's sleep. There was a possible light coating of snow in the forecast, but nothing to worry about, and it would melt by the next day. Suddenly, forecasts of a major storm started escalating. Words like historic, paralyzing, and record-breaking began circulating across every news channel. During the afternoon of February 22, 2026, the snow gently started to come down over the landscape. 

Blizzard of 2026

Overnight, the storm advanced. Snow bands stalled and strengthened, feeding on Atlantic moisture and cold Arctic air locked in place. Winds escalated and the snow got heavier with accumulations of up to 2-4 inches  per hour.  As it intensified, the storm was officially upgraded to what is referred to as a "Bomb Cyclone", with  bands of heavy snow and wind gusts exceeding 50 mph overnight. Along our far east coastal shorelines here on Long Island, winds reached upwards of 70–80 mph. 

Blizzard of 2026

Meteorologists described this event as among the most intense winter storms in years, as I could hear the winds throughout the night, and even experienced the first "thunder snow" as lighting shot across the sky in the early hours of the morning. Non-essential travel was banned across New York and neighboring states during the worst of the storm due to dangerous blizzard conditions, and power outages affected hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses across the region. Fortunately, we were sparred.  

Blizzard of 2026

By the morning of February 23rd, neighborhoods across the northeastern United States were buried. Roads disappeared, cars became rounded mounds and masses of snow hung from the rooftop. In places like Long Island and across much of New York and New England, the final measurement stunned even veteran meteorologists, with a record 29.1 inches of snow. It surpassed totals from the legendary Blizzard of 1978 and the massive 2013 storm that many had assumed would remain the benchmark for a generation.

Blizzard of 2026

For longtime residents, the Blizzard of 1978 had been remembered for its ferocious winds and immobilized highways. I remember it well, as my parents had bought me a car for my college graduation, which was due to pick up the day after that storm. My parents drove me there and my dad drove the car home until we got a couple of blocks away, then safely let me drive the rest of the way. The 2013 storm was known for breathtaking totals and coastal flooding. After a decade, the Blizzard of 2026 has made weather history.

Blizzard of 2026

By late afternoon on the 23rd, the storm finally began to loosen its grip. Snow tapered to flurries, the winds softened and there was a strange beauty among the landscape. Streets were impassable, but untouched. The world felt paused, cocooned. Evergreens that typically stand proud in winter were bent to the ground. Garden beds disappeared beneath sculpted drifts that reshaped entire yards. For gardeners across the region, especially those already dreaming of spring planting plans, it was a humbling reminder that "mother nature' is the one who sets the schedule. With that, the sound of plows were heard in the distance. 

Blizzard of 2026

On the morning of the 24th, the sky emerged in brilliant, uninterrupted blue, the kind that only appears after a major winter storm and light struck the fresh snow, showing shadows. Icicles hanging from the roof sparked like glass in the sunlight. The storm, so dominant just hours before, suddenly seemed distant. Neighbors stepped outside cautiously, boots crunching through nearly two and a half feet of a wet, dense snow. The labor began, shoveling out to resume life. For many, they had not seen anything like this before.

Blizzard of 2026

The morning following blue skies, the snow had arrived once again for just a short time, gracing the landscape with 3.1 additional inches of snowfall. Gazing through the window, a feeling of peace and silence came upon me, as I could see the sun gently making its way through the clouds. Records had been made. Airports and businesses have been reopened, and delivery trucks have reappeared. Life resumes, although carefully. Beneath those 29.1 inches plus of snowfall, gardens rest.

I hope you enjoyed This Month in the Garden! How did you weather the storm? I would love to hear from you!

IN THE NEWS: Check out my newsletter, Northeastern Gardening News. Subscribe to receive monthly recaps of the garden, garden design and maintenance tips, and everything horticultural!

👉 Think Spring! Purchase my Books! 👈

A Guide to Northeastern Gardening: Journeys of a Garden Designer Zones 3-9

Landscape Design Combinations  

Dream, Garden, Grow!-Musings of a Lifetime Gardener

Gardening by Month: A Monthly Guide to Planning the Northeastern & Mid-Atlantic Garden

Shade Gardening for the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic

The Houseplant Guide: How to Easily Select & Maintain Indoor Plants

For now, keep warm and as always... happy gardening!

Author: Lee @A Guide to Northeastern Gardening, © Copyright 2010-2026. All rights reserved.   

2025 Gardening Year in Review: Welcome Visitors!

January

Happy New Year! It's nice to see you here and welcome to my zone 7b Long Island garden as we recap the 2025 gardening season! After a very mild December of 2024, the month of January quickly diminished any thoughts of the warmer temperatures we had been experiencing. As daytime temperatures dropped below freezing and into the teens at night with high winds and a chill factor in the single digits, it made for a cold start to the month. Two small dustings of snowfall graced the landscape on the 6th and another on the morning of the 11th. The month of January brought other exciting news with the launching of my sixth book, The Houseplant Guide: How to Easily Select & Maintain Indoor Plants.

February

After a January with record low temperatures, the month of February brought a combination of cold windy days and moderately comfortable days, making the forecast very unpredictable. Our first significant snowfall occurred overnight on the 8th, followed by more snow on the evening of the 11th, creating a blanket of white upon the landscape. Despite the snowfall, Hellebore 'Shooting Star' was showing off its winter blooms, while the berries of 'Sky Pencil' Holly added interest to the garden. The rest of the landscape was covered in a light coating of snow, just enough to create a winter wonderland. 

March

After a windy start to March and with spring on the way, temperatures finally rose up into the upper 50’s, and the garden started to emerge from its winter sleep. It had been an unusual winter with fluctuating temperatures and very little in the way of snow as compared to years in the past. Northern winds during the month of February and into the beginning of March made it feel a lot colder than it actually was. Finally after a cold and windy start, Mother Nature had finally thrown the switch for spring to arrive. Hellebores (Lenten Rose) continued to bloom, while spring bulbs made their appearance.

April

The beginning of the month of April brought reminders of winter with cold and wind, but that did not stop the flowers from blooming! With some milder days mixed in with temperatures mainly in the 40's and 50's and a moderate amount of rain, the garden was coming to life everywhere. As the red stalks of Peony emerged from their winter's sleep, blooms of Hyacinths and Crocus could be seen throughout the garden.

May

The month of May was a busy one filled with blooms as the temperatures gradually warmed up into the 70's by day, and with frequent rain in the forecast. Every day there was something new to explore in the garden, which makes May one of my favorite months for gardening and dreaming of what future blooms are in store. Some of the blooms to be seen were those of 'Girards' Azalea and the beautiful bluish-purple blooms of Jacob's Ladder 'Golden Feathers' and Nepeta 'Cat's Meow'!

June

The month of June turned out to be one of the coolest and rainiest I can remember. The temperatures had remained mostly in the upper 60's and low 70's, with one day topping at 88 degrees, which felt like a heat wave! Foggy morning and evening skies and on and off showers delivered an abundance of moisture to the garden. Knock Out Roses, Itoh Peony 'Bartzella', Lamb's Ear, Kousa Dogwood and Spirea were all in full bloom. On Saturday June 14th, our property was on the Sayville Garden Tour and it poured rain all day, but that did not stop the gardeners as they walked the grounds. The general consensus was that, “There is something magical about a garden in the rain!”

July

After a cooler than usual June, July brought temperatures in the upper 80's and 90's with heat and humidity, and a record breaking day of 101 degrees Fahrenheit. This tied July for the “hottest day on record”, along with five inches of rainfall on the 31st. The combination of heat, humidity and sufficient rain made the garden accelerate into an array of color. Blooms to be seen included Echinacea 'Cheyenne Spirit' and 'Pow Wow 'Wild Berry', Salvia, Roses, Daylily, Veronica, Astilbe 'Sprite' and Butterfly Bush, just to name a few!

August

With a cool start to the spring and summer, then record breaking heat, the summer of 2025 ended up being our hottest summer on record. The arrival of August brought some relief with cooler temperatures in the low 80's, which was followed by another heat wave mid-month. In the garden, Crape Mrytle 'Sioux', Platycodon (Balloon Flower), Allium 'Millenium' and Hydrangea 'Firelight Tidbit' continued to be in full bloom.

September

After two months of extreme heat and drought, the seasons finally shifted into fall mode by September, with cooler temperatures in the 70's and blue, cloudless skies. September is one of my favorite months of the year as the garden is starting to transition into an array of changing colors. While new blooms appeared and some blooms keep their momentum going, the garden was a place that brought me joy as Abelia, varieties of Sedum, Roses, Lilies, and Lilyturf continued to bloom. 

October

October started off unusually mild with temperatures in the 70's and 80's, then suddenly cooled down  into the lower to upper 60's by mid-month. Our first nor'easter of the season brought an abundance of rain and wind on the 12th through the 13th. The garden did appreciate the rainfall though and was starting to show signs of autumn with its quickly changing foliage, as leaves took on hues of pink, orange and gold. As Coneflowers went to seed, blooms including Montauk Daisies and Balloon Flower continued their show.

November

The month of November started off with mild temperatures, then an artic blast brought the very first snow showers of the season on the 11th as the morning temperatures dipped into the low 30's with an afternoon high of 42 degrees. The evening brought strong wind gusts, giving a feeling like winter had arrived. Following were more normal seasonal temperatures in the 50's, bringing a sigh of relief that the much colder temperatures hopefully were on hold for a while. There were still blooms to be seen, lots of foliage transitioning, and bright red berries appearing on 'Nellie Stevens' Holly. 

December

December brought seasonal temperatures plummeting into the 30's and 40's by day and into the teens on some nights, as the garden entered dormancy. Just like that, on the morning of the 14th as we awoke, the weather predictions had became true. Our first snow had arrived and the once green landscape had turned into a snowy winter wonderland with seven inches total of snowfall. It became official...it was the largest December snowfall we have had in years. There was something about that first snow that brought a warm feeling to my heart.

I hope you enjoyed This Month in the Garden and the virtual recap of my 2025 garden. As we begin a new year, I wish you and yours a wonderful, happy and healthy 2026 with lots of new and wonderful memories and gardens that will thrive! As always, happy gardening and thank you so much for being here!

 Sharing a Love of Gardening with my Books!

A Guide to Northeastern Gardening: Journeys of a Garden Designer Zones 3-9

Landscape Design Combinations  

Dream, Garden, Grow!-Musings of a Lifetime Gardener

Gardening by Month: A Monthly Guide to Planning the Northeastern & Mid-Atlantic Garden

Shade Gardening for the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic

The Houseplant Guide: How to Easily Select & Maintain Indoor Plants

Author: Lee @A Guide to Northeastern Gardening, © Copyright 2010-2026. All rights reserved.   

Feature Plant: Japanese Red Pine ‘Low Glow’-A Compact Evergreen for Year-Round Appeal

 Japanese Red Pine (Pinus densiflora ‘Low Glow’)

Welcome to This Month in the Garden! Today we feature a slow growing evergreen with an abundance of landscape appeal. If you’re looking for a compact, low-maintenance evergreen that adds year-round structure and rich green texture to the landscape, Japanese Red Pine Low Glow (Pinus densiflora ‘Low Glow’) is a standout choice! Pinus densiflora ‘Low Glow’ is native to North America and is cold hardy in USDA zones 3-7.

This dwarf cultivar of the North American native Red Pine offers all the beauty of its full-sized relative in a garden-friendly form that’s ideal for small spaces, rock gardens, and foundation plantings. The parent species, Red Pine (Pinus resinosa), is native to northern North America, stretching across the Great Lakes region into Canada and the northeastern United States. Known for its tall, straight growth and resilience in cold climates, Red Pine is often used in reforestation projects. ‘Low Glow’ is a dwarf selection, discovered and cultivated for its compact, mounded habit and adaptability to gardens and landscapes where full-sized Red Pines would be far too large.

Characteristics: Low Glow Red Pine is a small evergreen coniferous shrub displaying a compact, rounded habit and is slow growing. It typically reaches 2 to 3 feet tall by 3 to 4 feet wide after ten years, and in optimum conditions, a maximum of 6 feet wide at maturity. In springtime, clusters of vibrant yellow-green or chartreuse needles create a glowing effect against its dense, rounded form and prominent, white-pointed buds. Needles mature to a deeper green which remain vibrant throughout the year, while providing reliable winter color. Growth Rate is slow, adding only one to two inches of new growth per year, making it ideal for smaller spaces.

Care Requirements: Low Glow Red Pine is remarkably easy to grow with just a few key needs. Locate in full sun in a well-draining, sandy or loamy soil for best performance. Low Glow Red Pine tolerates partial shade but may lose its dense shape if it doesn’t receive enough light. Once established, it will tolerate poorer soils but does not thrive in heavy, wet, or clay conditions. Water regularly when young to establish strong roots. Once established, it is drought-tolerant and requires only occasional watering during extended dry spells. Generally, Low Glow Red Pine requires low to moderate feeding. If growth is slow or needles appear pale, apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer for evergreens in early spring.

Pruning and Maintenance: Minimal pruning required. Low Glow Red Pine maintains its natural rounded shape without much intervention. If shaping is desired, light pruning can be done in late spring by “candling” (pinching back the new growth on candles before they harden). Remove any dead or damaged branches as needed.

Landscape Uses: Because of its compact habit and adaptability, Low Glow Red Pine is especially popular among collectors of dwarf and unusual conifers. Use in rock gardens and alpine plantings, foundation or border accents, mixed conifer gardens, low-maintenance landscapes and small urban gardens where space is limited.

I hope you enjoyed This Month in the Garden and have found the information to be useful. Low Glow Red Pine is a dependable, attractive, and easy-to-grow evergreen that offers year round interest with the charm of  being a compact, landscape-friendly form. Whether you’re looking to add structure to a rock garden, year-round interest to a foundation planting, or just a hardy, low-care shrub to your landscape, this dwarf pine is an excellent choice.

Looking for some Garden Inspiration? Check Out My Books:

A Guide to Northeastern Gardening: Journeys of a Garden Designer Zones 3-9

Landscape Design Combinations  

Dream, Garden, Grow!-Musings of a Lifetime Gardener

Gardening by Month: A Monthly Guide to Planning the Northeastern & Mid-Atlantic Garden

Shade Gardening for the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic

The Houseplant Guide: How to Easily Select & Maintain Indoor Plants

As Always...Happy Gardening!

Author: Lee @A Guide to Northeastern Gardening, © Copyright 2010-2025. All rights reserved.  

"A Little Garden Music... And Art” Garden Tour

"A Little Garden Music... And Art Garden Tour" 2025

Welcome to This Month in the Garden! On Saturday, June 14th, the Sayville Garden Club and Bay Area Friends of the Fine Arts (BAFFA) hosted their semi-annual afternoon garden tour featuring six gardens along with music and art. My husband and I were honored to be part of this local event for the third time since our previous involvement in 2010 and 2018.  It was a cool and rainy day, but leave it to devoted gardeners to combat the weather and endure the elements to visit a garden or six! Despite the weather, it was an enjoyable and successful day!

Patio Planter with Hydrangea 'Jip Blue'

Daylily 'Stella D Oro' Along Patio Border

North Side with Kousa Dogwood 'Greensleeves'

BAFFA Quartet: A Little Bit of Music!

Twombly's Red Sentinel Japanese Maple

Spirea 'Candy Corn' and Lamb's Ear (Stachys)

Patio Border

Patio Border and Backyard Island Bed

Entry to the North "Secret Garden"

Back "Secret Garden" (North Side)

Astilbe 'Peach Blossom

Back "Secret Garden" (South Side)

A Little Garden Art!

Back Entry with Double Knock Out Roses

'Caramel' Coral Bells with Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar

Pool Waterfall & Garden

Pool Waterfall & Garden

Cooking Garden-Herbs and Tomatoes

Driveway Border: Spirea 'Magic Carpet', Salvia 'Caradonna' and Weeping Norway Spruce

Front Island Bed 

Front Lawn: Weeping Japanese Maple 'Viridis'

Garden Greeters-Thank You!

The Sayville Garden Club was founded in 1927 and is a community organization which focuses on gardening while maintaining local gardens and encouraging others to beautify their surroundings. The club promotes horticultural appreciation, creates floral designs and offers scholarships for local high school students, garden therapy programs and local clean-up efforts. Established in 1968, BAFFA (Bay Area Friends of the Fine Arts) is a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing music and fine arts to the community, including the BAFFA Symphony Orchestra and Chorus. The organization features monthly art exhibits showcasing local artists, art groups, student art shows and workshops.

Thank you for Visiting!

I hope you enjoyed This Month in the Garden and views from the Sayville Garden Tour. This event occurs every other year and is a favorite of many. Thank you to the Sayville Garden Club for wanting to include us once again. It is a privilege and an honor and we enjoyed meeting and getting to speak with and share thoughts with other like minded individuals who enjoy and appreciate gardening!

Looking for some Garden Inspiration? Check Out My Books:

A Guide to Northeastern Gardening: Journeys of a Garden Designer Zones 3-9

Landscape Design Combinations  

Dream, Garden, Grow!-Musings of a Lifetime Gardener

Gardening by Month: A Monthly Guide to Planning the Northeastern & Mid-Atlantic Garden

Shade Gardening for the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic

The Houseplant Guide: How to Easily Select & Maintain Indoor Plants

As Always...Happy Gardening!

Author: Lee @A Guide to Northeastern Gardening, © Copyright 2010-2025. All rights reserved.