I placed a copperleaf between a paleand some creamy variegated Liriope. (I do!)Friend and dedicated gardener Gita visited one of her favorite nurseries in early summer. Writers might (I did) start out by "writing what they know." But those of us (me)...
In this era of growing emphasis on energy efficiency, many of us who live in temperate zones or colder are seeking ways to better seal our homes to achieve higher efficiency in heating and cooling.
You can grow them without treating them at all differently from other African violets.With just a little additional attention, you can turn them into the show-off "princesses" of your plant shelf.feature within PlantFiles to look for certain plants with...
This phenomenon argues for both the viral hypothesis and for the agent of transfer being some insect. Tissue taken from either variegated or non-variegated parts of a plant whose variegation is genetic will grow into plants that look just like the plant...
You may not believe it, but I still have laurel dry leaves from my store! Let me explain.In 1994, my husband and I had the opportunity to open a small grocery store at his grandparents' former house after they died.
The following spring, the sixth graders noticed tiny seedlings springing up in the planter. Students who finished their work early were allowed to weed and water the plants. After snuggling some pine needle mulch around the tiny plants, we resumed the...
But what about their health, the blush in their cheeks? Sometimes the punishment was sweet, especially if my friend was eating some candies or cookies at the time! I remember how I always tried to run and get something "green" if I didn't have anything...
Average rainfall is important for a good fall foliage coverage. Those who love the beaches, warm sunny weather and tropical plants growing in their own back yards, show up in droves to view the amazing display put on by nature once a year.I learned in...
What does "going green" really mean to those of us who love to garden? Do those plants have interesting foliage or structure? "To be mindful and sensitive to the natural environment of your daily life" would seem to be a perfect description.
With luck, we won't have snow until late October, but first snow is almost always followed by Indian Summer, a warming break before the season turns more seriously to what will come.November brings grey skies and bare branches that sing a warning song...
I love the colors of the trees as Mother Nature brings out her autumnal paint brush, and the crisp air quickens my footstep. Now just a memory, I savor the beauty of our lush summer and its peaceful, pastoral setting.My wife and I live in a verdant valley...
I see that my roses are trying for a fall bloom flush, but I don't think they have the energy to make a go of it. They will bury their noses into these flakes of hay and inhale the fresh summery smell.
Thus, I had no trouble believing my co-worker, though I eventually found out that he and my childhood impression were both wrong. You will see colorful trees in residential neighborhoods, landscaped industrial parks, and along highways.
These mint plants are also quite toxic to cattle and other livestock, so it's no wonder why shiso is considered more of a noxious, undesirable weed in some area of the world.Prized in Asian countries not only for its culinary uses, the oil extracted from...
You don't need a chipper/shredder for leaves; you can just run your lawnmower through your leaf pile a few times.You can also collect leaves now to spread around your plants next year.
Erillas have been garden denizens for centuries among the countries of southeast Asia and, to some extent, in American gardens as well, especially during the Victorian Era.But they certainly didn't look anything like ‘Magilla!' (See my photo at right.)Taller...
As gardeners, we know that fulfillment comes from our connection to the earth and what we can create from it. Today is the first day of autumn and I absolutely love this time of year.
To enrich your soil and insulate many of your plants from winter's cold. Believe me you won't have to show them what to do; they will jump in without prompting. They provide shelter for our song birds as well as many other animals.Right now, millions...
You do not need to be afraid to use it anywhere. It always seems to work. Green plant foods tend to be high in vitamin C, folate, and fiber, and are often a good source of vitamin A.
Clethra grows as an upright suckering bush to about four feet tall. Get all the attention in the fall foliage reports, but shrubs can bring autumnal accents to your landscape as well.
Having said this, many variegated selections have been with us for some time compared to many of today's yellow and purple-foliaged plants. None the less, plant breeders are still making new variegated selections, primarily based on plants much more dwarf...
Today, we have many more yellow-foliaged shrubs to choose from. Plant breeders recognize the need for such foliage plants and every year, new selections are being released. Depending on the species, these shrubs can vary from under 1 m to over 4m so are...
I was happily surprised to find many of his suggestions growing in my own garden and the image showing the cover of the book is just a very few of the armload of varieties that I clipped for the shot.
They grow well and are a bright spot near my back door.As they mature, small black seeds will start to develop along the lower part of the flowers. Cockscomb seeds are inexpensive and are often found on the bargain racks at the local big box store.
Fresh manure is greener than aged. Check the label; use one with a high first number, and NO "weed and" part (NO herbicide.) Try about a half cup of fertilizer per "large bag full" amount of leaves going into the bin.: blood meal, corn gluten meal, or...
Handpicking is the first line of defense for the small vegetable garden and home landscape.With warm weather comes the emergence of the overwintering adults intent on reproduction.
From about 11 a.m. until about 3 p.m., the sun casts brutal shadows and blows out even the brightest colors. Therelly is no such thing as the perfect photo! We can always find something that could have been better.
