the web nook of ryan lê

Pennywort, or Centella asiatica, is a small green herb with coin-shaped leaves that grows in warm, wet places. When summer comes around I love to drink Pennywort juice or Rau Má in vietnamese.

Clematis 'Huvi' is a vine that climbs up fences or trellises and makes big, bright red-magenta flowers in late spring and summer, sometimes again in fall. It can handle really cold winters, likes sun on its leaves but shade on its roots, and you give it a big haircut every year so it grows back with lots of new blooms.

Bougainvillea ‘Barbara Karst’ is a fast-growing, evergreen vine known for its vivid magenta-red bracts that bloom heavily from spring to fall, and year-round in warm climates. It can climb 20–30 feet with support, thrives in full sun, and is drought-tolerant once established.

The Tiger Lily (Lilium lancifolium) is a bold, showy flower splashed in bright orange with dark freckles, like nature’s own polka-dot party. Standing tall on sturdy stems, it blooms in mid to late summer. Hardy and easy to grow, it’s a favorite for both gardeners and pollinators—plus, it looks like it’s perpetually dressed for a summer festival.

Bigleaf Hydrangeas (Hydrangea macrophylla) are beloved shrubs known for their large, vibrant flower clusters that can be pink, blue, or even purple depending on soil pH. Blooming from early summer into fall, they thrive in partial sun with moist, well-drained soil, making them a standout in borders, hedges, or as focal points in the garden.

Kalanchoe blossfeldiana is a popular succulent known for its bright, long-lasting clusters of small flowers that come in shades like red, pink, yellow, and orange. It thrives indoors with plenty of indirect light and minimal watering, making it an easy-care favorite for adding a cheerful pop of color to any room.

Perilla frutescens, often called perilla, shiso, or beefsteak plant, is a leafy herb in the mint family prized for its aromatic, slightly spicy flavor. Its leaves can be green or deep purple. Easy to grow in full sun and well-drained soil, perilla is both ornamental and edible, adding beauty to the garden and fresh flavor to the kitchen.

This is my personal favorite! Hybrid fuchsias are ornamental shrubs or trailing plants loved for their elegant, two-tone blooms that dangle like tiny, colorful lanterns in shades of pink, purple, red, and white. Their vibrant flowers attract hummingbirds and bring a graceful, romantic touch to any outdoor space.