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Gardening Advice
Several years ago, I was given a potted agapanthus or African lily. After waiting all summer for my agapanthus to bloom, I had to finally admit that maybe it was time to repot it.What is an Agapanthus?Also called the Lily of the Nile, the agapanthus is actually native to South Africa—nowhere near the Nile.There are seven species of agapanthus, which are in the same family as…
For several weeks we have seen monarch butterflies flitting around our gardens—stopping to take advantage of the nectar plants we have growing in abundance. We watched them turn from caterpillars to chrysalises to Monarchs!They really enjoy the goldenrod, but there are other nectar sources that they like as well, including the zinnias, coneflowers, Joe-Pye weed, liatris, bee balm, asters,…
If you love Siberian and bearded irises, you have to give their Japanese cousin a try. They bloom much later than the tall bearded irises, extending the iris season from mid-July into early August.The blossoms of Japanese iris (Iris ensata) differ from those of bearded iris mainly because they do not have the tall, upright petals (called standards) in the center of the blossom. They…
In late spring, the rhododendrons are blooming! Here’s more about this stunning flowering shrub—which are easy to grow as long as you have the right conditions.
What Are Rhododendrons?
Rhododendrons are actually the most popular woody landscape plant in the United States. There are over 800 species of rhododendrons ranging from spreading groundcovers a few inches high to…
In your garden, you may have a microclimate—a small area that has a different climate than your broader growing zone. How do you work with a microclimate?Often, this niche or pocket climate is slightly warmer than the surrounding landscape. For perennial gardeners, the easiest way to encourage earlier blooms and more frequent blooms is to plant them in the warmest pockets…
We sell hundreds of vegetable starts each spring and always remind our customers to be sure to harden off the plants before planting them in the garden. Surprisingly, many people have no idea what hardening off means.
Tough Love
One of the most stressful transitions for a tender transplant is to go from life in a cozy greenhouse, where it has been sheltered from the elements, to life in…
Who doesn’t love a good story? I am drawn to plants that have an interesting story attached to them. I love plant lore, and learning about a plant’s origins and how it got its plant name. I hope you do, too!Here are few of my favorite stories behind some heirloom plants.‘Mostoller Wild Goose’ is a pole variety of horticultural bean named for Sarah Mostoller, a miller’s wife from…
If one of your goals is to become a better gardener and contribute to your community, you should look into your local Master Gardener program.Usually sponsored by Cooperative Extension Services affiliated with state universities, there are Master Gardener programs in just about every state and Canadian province.These intensive horticultural training programs teach non-professionals…
It’s only January, but already I’m tired of looking out at a bleak sheet of white. Luckily, I have some plants that are a sensory delight all year ‘round—scented geraniums.
Though the flowers are fairly insignificant, just touching a leaf releases the aroma of roses, mint, or lemon.
Their fragrance is contained in small beads of oil located at the base of the tiny leaf hairs.…
It is easy to add depth to your flower garden by using plants with dark colored leaves.Burgundy foliage creates a backdrop for the flowers growing around it and adds variety to a sea of green. Plants with dark maroon leaves not only take center stage when they are in bloom but continue to be interesting even when they are not blossoming. Dark colors mix well with silver-leaved and variegated…
Got poison ivy in your own garden? As a gardener myself, I feel your pain! Here are my tips on how to get rid of poison ivy in the garden and yard.Indeed, poison ivy has plagued man—and gardeners—since the dawn of time. I suspect Adam and Eve encountered it soon after leaving the Garden of Eden while looking for some shiny new leaves to wear. Most Native American tribes have names…
Most of my favorite flowering vines are in the plant family Ipomoea. The most common member of this family is the morning glory, though there are about 300 more plants, including the sweet potato, and many of them are twining climbers.It will be a jungle out there when my vines grow up! The morning glory can grow to be ten feet tall or more in a season, which made it a…
