Hosta and ferns are standards for the perennial shade garden. They have similar growing condition requirements and the contrast of fine-textured fronds and broad Hosta leaves does bring dimension and quiet contrast. All well and good for a supremely serene retreat, but what if you’d like to energize your shadowy shade realm a bit?
Pruning of trees and shrubs can help them stay within a certain size limit to fit the confines and aesthetics of a garden space. More importantly, pruning encourages fuller plants – thus more foliage for photosynthesis, more blooms to attract pollinators, more fruits for you and any creatures you share them with.
Late winter into early spring is when we crave fresh growth, a bit of color…some sign that spring is really returning!! Swelling buds on Pussy Willow and dainty Snowdrop blooms – which might be overlooked or scoffed at if amongst the lushness of summer plant life – bring excitement, praise and hope! These are soon followed […]
1) Almost ALL plants grow the most during summer. Trees, Shrubs, Perennials all put on the most root and foliage growth during the summer months. Therefore successfully establishing themselves in to your yard and landscape. 2) The selection of plants especially perennials is the widest during the summer! Hundreds of varieties like Coneflower, Hardy Hibiscus, […]
Annual Plant Combinations to Match Your Favorite Team’s Colors It is easy to show your team spirit all season long by planting annual flower combinations that represent the colors of your favorite college or professional football team.
If you love to grow vegetables, but find you can never eat all your garden yields, here’s an alternative to researching new recipes in anticipation of your millionth tomato. Grow some decorative gourds in place of a portion of your usual edible veggies. Decorative gourds have potential as centerpieces, serving bowls, storage containers, birdhouses, and […]
“If you would be happy for a lifetime, grow Chrysanthemums.” (Chinese philosopher) More than just a late-season garden booster, Chrysanthemums are used throughout the world in medicine, pest controls, edibles and teas. They are plants that have continually proved their worth, in both utility and beauty, since ancient times.
The end of summer is in sight and what is a vegetable gardener to do? You might be enjoying the last hurrah of cherry tomatoes and peppers, but don’t let the bounties of your harvest end there. When the temperatures cool, there is a fresh opportunity to grow different edible plants.
One of the best things about gardening is being able to experiment with new products, plants and methods. Whether you are an experienced gardener or just getting started, growing your plants using straw bales may be just what you’ve been looking for! Straw bale gardening is simple to start, a breeze to maintain and the […]
Herb Infused and Inspired Beverages for the Adult Gardener Picture yourself on the patio, enjoying the summer breeze and the company of friends as you sip on a cool, refreshing cocktail that you created with the herbs from your garden. Herb inspired cocktails as well as handcrafted infused liqueurs are gaining popularity and with good […]