Flowers & Ornamentals

As soon as spring rolls around, you’d think I’m running a plant nursery out of my suburban back yard. Surprisingly, I’m not. (I’ve never sold plants, but did my fair …

If you spend any amount of time in the gardenverse on social media, you’ve probably seen the AI-generated videos using egg cartons as an easy hack to plant bulbs. Like …

Spring is always the busiest time of the year in my yard. If you garden, it’s probably the same for you. There’s so much to do to get flowers and …

It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been gardening; there’s always something new to learn. After having written my fair share of gardening articles (in the hundreds by now), I want …

There comes a point every winter when I’m just done. I’m done with putting on seven layers and fifteen pounds worth of clothing just to stay warm. I’m done with …

I am endlessly fascinated by the power that scent can have on our mood. A well-chosen fragrance can help us feel calm, relaxed, joyful or pensive. It can unlock memories …

Winter is slowly, gradually, loosening its grip on my garden and on my mood. I was thinking the other day how I always complain about how “this winter feels like …

Hydrangeas have to be one of the most beloved and popular ornamental shrubs, don’t you think? You don’t even need to be a gardener to know a hydrangea when you …

Whether you’ve been growing lavender for decades or you’re bringing home your first plant, there are a few things you need to know about this fragrant Mediterranean beauty. I’ve noticed …

When I first started gardening, nothing intimidated me more than pruning. It felt so confusing and counterintuitive. And I constantly thought to myself, wouldn’t it be nice if there was …

I hold a weird duality in my gardener soul once February rolls around. On the one hand, the tantalizing signs of spring perk up my mood, and I get carried …

January and February may not necessarily be the months when we enjoy the fruits of our labor, but that doesn’t mean we can’t use them as stepping stones to set …

I’ll be the first one to admit that it feels a bit premature (bordering on ridiculous) to write about propagating plants in January. As I’m sitting down to write this …

Despite writing for our Rural Sprout readers for a few years now and mentioning lilac in no fewer than six articles, it has just dawned on me that I haven’t …

As much as I love the feeling of late fall in the garden, and all the scrumptious flavors that come part and parcel with the season, there’s one thing I …

Whether you are new to African violets or don’t have a room in your house without one (hi friend!), you need to read this article if you want healthy, blooming …

October is the best month to plant perennials, especially if you prefer gardening on easy mode. So, I’ve rounded up some of the easiest perennials you can grow. Get them …

Spring bulbs are a promise from Mother Nature, given each fall. As we close out the summer and cooler fall temperatures arrive, it’s time to plant the bulbs that will …

Roses are the one garden ornamental that has never gone out of style or fallen out of grace. They’re no longer confined to formal gardens, and seeing them tumble out …

I love a messy garden! And not just as a self-confessed prune-crastinator. To me, a messy garden is a living garden. A diverse garden. And a welcoming garden.  So that’s …

Have you heard the term “underpruner” before? I honestly hope you haven’t, because if you have, that would mean I haven’t just made that up. Which I totally did. To …

Even when I’m buying mums, I can already picture their skeletal remains, tipped out of their pots and into the compost bin a couple of months from now. Chrysanthemums are …

Fall is here! What? You didn’t notice that everyone is suddenly selling pumpkins and chrysanthemums? This time of year, mums make their way into our grocery carts and grace our …

As a recovering pessimist, I have become quite adept at not making a big deal out of gardening mistakes. Sometimes, my plan(t)s don’t work out because the elements conspire against …