The days and nights are getting colder, the leaves starting to change to more brilliant shades of red and gold. It’s time to start cutting back the gardens and preparing them for a long sleep under the snow. Summer-blooming perennials that have gotten too large for their homes over the summer should be dug up […]
Nothing says “fall” like chrysanthemums. Mums are the most widely grown potted plant in the country, and one of the longest lasting cut flowers, and the enormous range of colors they bloom in makes them suitable for just about any area. They will hold their blooms on the plant for upwards of a month, providing […]
Cooler weather has arrived, the trees are starting to change, and the kids have gone back to school. No matter what the calendar says, it’s fall, folks. It’s time to take a look at the garden and see what can be done in the next couple of months to fill some gaps. Fall is great […]
Some of the most stunning plants in the late summer garden are the Hardy Hibiscus. Whether perennial or shrub, they bust forth with a plethora of tropical-looking blossoms in August and September, reminding us that summer isn’t quite over. Bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies all adore the trumpet-shaped blossoms and sweet nectar within, giving them a […]
Summer is finally here, and seems to be making up for lost time by jacking temperatures up higher than we’ve seen in a good long while. Our plants aren’t any more used to it than we are, and though my tomatoes are finally happy and producing some fruit, other members of the garden aren’t quite […]
Ah, Hydrangea. A flower that brings to mind old lace and lazy summer evenings. A welcome sight when many of the other shrubs in the landscape have finished blooming. They come in a variety of sizes and flower shapes, so there’s sure to be one that fits in your garden! The Smooth Hydrangea (H. arborescens) […]
The Daylily Days of summer have arrived! Bright color is a little bit later than usual, thanks to our odd spring, but that just means we get to enjoy it for a little longer than usual. The daylilies are in full bloom, and though the flowers themselves only each last a single day, the sheer […]
The pale pinks, blues, and soft yellows of spring have given way to bold reds, oranges and golds as the weather and the garden finally heat up this year. Everything has definitely benefited from the return of sunshine and warm weather. My veggie garden is finally starting to really grow, and I’m seeing little baby […]
Every July they visit. Thousands upon thousands of them. Hungry invaders that will stop at nothing to make sure any joy we get out of our summer gardens is destroyed swiftly and completely. I speak of Japanese Beetles, the scourge of all rose gardeners and anybody who enjoys having a nice lawn. These little copper […]
Rose is a rose is a rose. Every rose has it’s thorn. Do not think that roses are cursed with thorns, but that a thorn bush is fortunate enough to have roses bloom upon it. More, I am sure, has been written about roses than nearly any other bloom imaginable, though that will not discourage […]