Flowers & Ornamentals

We love our hydrangeas around here. And judging by the popularity of our articles on this topic, we think you might be just as infatuated with these magnificent shrubs as …

As we’re burrowing deeper into the thick of this crazy summer weather, I can’t help but feel that this is the true test of the garden. Everything I’ve been working …

The inspiration for this article on hydrangea plant pairings came to me courtesy of golden hour. I was sitting on a bench next to a pink mountain hydrangea that looked …

I’m a huge advocate for planting flowers among your vegetable garden. They add a lovely pop of color and attract pollinators, which means more vegetables. But when you tell me …

If you have lupines planted in your front yard and see a stranger walking up and down the street every hour gawking at them, rest assured, I mean no harm. …

Sometimes, I like to do counterintuitive things in the garden.  I let the buttercups grow unplucked because they’re generous food sources for early pollinators. I cherish the moss between the …

A few years ago, I opened an article on iris care by stating that “I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who actually bought irises to plant in their garden.” …

When I had a much smaller garden, I could only fit a couple of small shrubs along a fence. Lilac was not one of them.  And yet, I still knew …

The United States of America is celebrating its semiquincentennial, 250th, anniversary this July. People are getting excited, and the celebrating has already begun. Every time I drive into town, I …

I’m a big fan of garden troubleshooting guides.   You know the one: “What to do if your [insert plant here] is dying.” or “How to revive your [plant].” I have …

Late spring – mid-May through early June – is a deceptive period of time for most gardeners, vegetable or ornamental. This is that weird time in the growing season, where …

There’s a saying in gardening that goes like this: “We prune for a reason, not for a season.” This means that there are no set times to prune plants, only …

I’m a big fan of a plant with multiple functions.  Does it feed me? Great!  Does it feed pollinators too? Even better. Does it look pretty in addition to all …

Let’s be honest with ourselves, we don’t grow lilacs for the lovely, emerald green leaves. We grow lilacs for that heady scent that perfumes the air on warm spring days. …

Ah, good! You’re here! I hope you’re wearing your comfiest pair of shoes, dear reader, because today, we’re going plant shopping. I’d like to take you with me and point …

Bare root plants are a great way to add to your garden without spending a lot of dough. One look at the display in your local garden center, and you’ll …

The idea for this article stemmed from a list of tall plants that I made for my own garden. I’m of the firm belief that good fences make good neighbors, …

When it comes to Spirea, most of us are familiar with Spirea Japonica. Go to any garden center each summer, and you’ll find hundreds of them. Take a drive around …

Now that my tomato seedlings are underway, I’m turning my attention to planting flowers once again.  I have two large boxes of flower seeds that I’ve saved over my years …

This might be an unpopular opinion, but I believe every single garden needs at least one shrub. I still like perennials and annuals, but shrubs just tie the room together. …

The days are getting longer, the light is softening, and there’s a warm breeze in the air. It must be April.  April is one of those months when I catch …

I must have been ten years old the first time I learned about bonus harvest. Except, of course, nobody called it that, and the lesson came in my life in …

Bleeding hearts (Lamprocapnos spectabilis) are some of the most magical springtime perennials in the garden. With their large, feathery leaves that dance on the spring breeze and their dramatic arches …

It’s mid-March, and the soft magnolia buds are getting plumper and plumper. Any minute now, the fuzzy shells will no longer be able to contain them, and every single velvety …