Flowers & Ornamentals

Spring has arrived in my little corner of the world, and it’s my absolute favorite season. The air is still fresh and cool, the birds are singing their little hearts …

Perennials are a staple when it comes to adding visual interest and appeal to our outdoor living spaces. These trusty plants come back year after year, making them an easy-care …

It’s May! The sun is shining, the birds are singing, the flowers are blooming, and your forsythia needs your attention. Once the golden blooms of early spring have faded and …

I first came across the term “edimental” when I was looking up whether I could eat this mesmerizing little plant that I had bought on impulse. It’s called purple Shiso …

I love planting perennials.  Above all, I love the fact that there’s a perennial for every garden. For every type of soil. For every type of shade. In any color …

I’ve never been a big fan of super tidy gardens with nary a leaf out of place. I like looking at them and walking through them, but I’ve never been …

After a thorough inspection of my garden notes and photo albums from previous years, I’ve now calculated that my hydrangeas will start blooming in exactly eighty-seven days and six hours. …

Spring is a busy time for dedicated gardeners. Seed sowing seems to take up most of our time, as we rush against the calendar to grow healthy flower and vegetable …

I’ve spent the past couple of months (basically since the end of the holiday season) counting down the days until I could do outdoor jobs again. But once the weather …

This spring, while you’re out tidying your flower beds, don’t forget to cut a handful of hosta shoots to go with dinner. Hostas are a classic landscape filler, immediately recognizable …

It’s already March and I have bulbs on my mind. And not just the spring bulbs that greet me every morning as I take my customary garden stroll, coffee mug …

It’s one thing for your daffodils not to come up at all; it’s another when you get leafy stands of green with no buds. Now you’re just teasing. Why all …

With warmer temperatures and the lengthening days of spring, everything seems to be growing. Being cooped up all winter, we gardeners tend to struggle with our desire to get out …

If you’re planning on sowing a few seeds indoors to get a jump on the growing season, then don’t forget to make room for a few flowers. We get so …

When it comes to flowers in the vegetable garden, marigolds, nasturtiums and calendula are the first blossoms that pop into my mind. I can see them vividly, swaying in the …

Over the years, I’ve come to appreciate the mild winters we enjoy in the southern United States. However, I’ve also learned the importance of being prepared for those occasional cold …

If you’ve been gardening in the United States, you’ve probably consulted the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map at least once. The PHZM or, as gardeners lovingly call it, the USDA …

Is it just me, or are poinsettias showing up in stores earlier each year? I went to the grocery store last week and was met with a wall of red …

We’ve had a very warm October this year, so I’ve postponed the task of planting spring bulbs from one Saturday to another until November rolled around.  On the one hand, …

Many years ago, when I first discovered that a surefire way to get free houseplants was to bring some in from the garden, you would have thought I’d hit the …

Hydrangeas are fun, pure and simple. What else can you say about a shrub with blooms that look like cheerleading pompoms? It’s no wonder they’re a summer mainstay in front …

If you were to walk past my garden and do a bit of eavesdropping at the height of summer, you would no doubt think you happened upon a scene from …

Anyone who gardens in even the slightest rural area can attest that there is no such thing as a deer-proof garden. These four-legged-munching-machines will graze, uninvited wherever you grow veggies, …

Many gardeners who prefer growing flowers choose specific varieties for fresh-cut arrangements. After all, who doesn’t enjoy the look of a fresh bouquet in their home? The bright colors, vivid …