Flowers & Ornamentals

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 …

This past weekend, I found myself dangerously close to buying a bucket of dahlias. I didn’t realize dahlias came by the bucket. It only took a couple of strolls down …

I love the steadfast nature of perennials. After another winter of cold, harsh weather, my plants yawn and stretch each spring, as they wake for another season of beautiful blooms, …

Zinnias are such dependable flowers, yet I didn’t think I could grow them for longer than I care to admit. I may have been a bit biased against them because …

By the time daylight saving time begins, I am done with winter. I’m dealing with major cabin fever, and I am ready to get outside and get gardening! This year, …