Flowers & Ornamentals

It’s September, and I have marvelous marigolds on my mind. Of course I do: they’re right there as I open the living room window, looking back at me every morning …

Let me clear the autumnal air here and get one thing on the record: I love mums! Their curvy shape. Their warm colors when everything else in the garden is …

Walk into any garden center, and you’ll invariably find rolls of brown and black landscape fabric. It’s cheap, it’s easy to get your hands on, and it definitely does a …

Aside from pumpkins, there’s no more popular fall décor than potted hardy chrysanthemums. Their gorgeous colors shout autumn is here with every jewel- or fire-colored bloom. And with retailers stocking …

Many of my articles are inspired by real-life conversations I have with gardeners, and this one is no different.  I found myself in a … ahem … let’s call it …

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 …