Focus on Flowers

Autumn Checklist

It is easy to get a renewed sense of enthusiasm for gardening when the hottest weather has passed. Read More »

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September 9, 2021

Always Cheerful Coreopsis

Our native perennial coreopsis is a stalwart in many American gardens.

Amaryllis in greenhouse at botanical garden

Rebuilding Amaryllis

Amaryllis bulbs can be rebuilt so that they can bloom well the following winter indoors.

What's Left?

My current garden is a shadow of its former self...thanks to the urban deer population. However, a few stalwart plants persist.

Amaranthus

Globe amaranth dries beautifully for winter bouquets.

The Plant Named for Achilles

Yarrow, “soldier’s woundwart,” “milfoil”—Achillea has many names and many uses.

Dry Gardens

During our hot Midwestern summers, it is good for pots to get some afternoon shade. Also, pots dry out more quickly, so it is best to plant annuals in the ground.

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July 29, 2021

Surviving Heat

In very hot weather, remember to water your potted plants twice a day as the soil in pots dries out quickly.

A Mailbox Garden

Choose just a few plants that will need minimum attention, and plant something vigorous around the base of the post to soften it.

Types of Gardens

If I were to start over, and knowing what I now know, I would start with a plan and a clearer idea of the type of garden I wanted.

White Snakeroot

It was not until the 1920s that it was recognized that cattle that grazed on white snakeroot caused humans to die if they drank the cow’s milk.

Harmful Plants

The garden is full of plants that are poisonous. Most are not lethal, but a few are, so it is wise to err on the side of caution.

Beautiful But Noxious: Purple Loosestrife

Purple Loosestrife clogs wetlands and waterways, choking out other plants and eliminating food sources for native wildlife. The plant is classified as a federal noxious weed.

Native Perennials

Native plants are important to preserve native wildlife and the ecology of our landscape, but some natives will suit our particular climate and garden space better than others.

Pass-Along Plants

Some of the best plants in my garden were given to me by other gardeners or came from plant swaps held by garden clubs.

Lesser Calamint

Dainty and durable and deer resistant—just my kind of plant!

Cut Flower Favorite: Alstroemeria

There are bound to be some times of the year when there are no flowers in our gardens, and that is when we just have to buy some! A good reliable flower to buy is the South American native alstroemeria.