August 10, 2023
Hibiscus moscheutos
Our Midwest Hibiscus moscheutos, (a.k.a. swamp mallow), is an herbaceous plant that has flowers that look so exotic that it seems tropical, but it is hardy zones 5-9.
August 3, 2023
Liatris spicata
Gayfeather (Liatris spicata) is a lovely native plant that attracts butterflies, bumble bees, and other insects.
July 27, 2023
Minimal Watering
Xeroscaping is the term for gardening while conserving water.
July 20, 2023
Excellent Echinaceas
The original perennial coneflowers were pink, but many new cultivars have been developed.
July 13, 2023
Cutting Garden
A mix of annuals, biennials, perennials, and shrubs ensures that your cutting garden always has something in bloom.
July 6, 2023
Deterring Peter
Peter Rabbit is cute, but he can be a problem for gardeners, especially when seedlings and small plants are available, and he wants them for his dinner!
June 29, 2023
Tough Native Plants
Native perennials are an essential part of our ecosystem and support wildlife. Some are more likely to thrive in our region than others.
June 22, 2023
Milkweed and the Monarchs
Monarch butterflies like to eat various species of milkweed, which have a bitter juice, that makes their caterpillars unappealing to predators.
June 15, 2023
Cuttings
If you want to get more plants from your existing flowering plants, a good way is to take cuttings.
June 8, 2023
Degrees of Shade
The degree of shade is an important factor in gardening, and usually for flowering plants, partial shade is the best.
June 1, 2023
Bougainvillea Vines
In warm climates, the showy, brightly colored bougainvillea vines romp over walls, fences, and even buildings, brightening landscapes with their vivid colors.
May 24, 2023
Sweet Candytuft
Both perennial and annual candytufts make excellent rock garden and edging plants.
May 18, 2023
Star of Bethlehem
The Star of Bethlehem name probably dates from the Crusades. The bulbs were brought home as souvenirs when ancient people made pilgrimages to the Holy Land. So, this sweet little flower has an impressive history.
May 11, 2023
Tired Daffodils
Always deadhead spring bulbs after they finish blooming or they will put their energy into setting seed, which limits their rejuvenation.
May 4, 2023
Evening Primrose
There are about 125 species in the genus Oenothera, and they are commonly called sundrops, evening primroses, or golden eggs, and they are native to North and South America.
April 27, 2023
Basket of Gold Dust
In olden times, if one wore a sprig of alyssum, no one would be angry with you.
April 20, 2023
Allelopathic Items
Allelopathic plants release chemicals through their leaves and roots that prevent the germination and/or growth of nearby plants.
April 13, 2023
Attacking Invasives
It's important to remove invasive, non-native plants to make more space available for plants that nourish our own native wildlife.
April 6, 2023
Smaller Shrubs
If you are planting a garden this spring around a condominium or in some other small garden space, you may want to consider some of the shrubs that have been developed to grow into a compact shape and size at maturity.
March 30, 2023
My Own Garden
There is magic associated with flowers. How can it be, I wonder, that there are so many different shapes, colors, and sizes to delight the senses?
