Flowers & Ornamentals

It is a truth universally acknowledged that once you learn a gardening “golden rule,” you’ll have to quickly unlearn it. Or at the very least, you might need to add …

If you still haven’t tried mycorrhizae, consider this your wake-up call – your plants are missing out! Your vegetables, your houseplants, the flowers you plant in the front flower bed, …

Which phrase rings more memorable to you? Old French climbing rough mountain oak.  or Old rough French climbing mountain oak.  No, it doesn’t make much sense. And no, I didn’t …

How much would you be willing to pay for a single snowdrop bulb? Would you believe that a single bulb of a new snowdrop hybrid went for £1850 (about $2300) …

It happens. You bought bulbs with the intention of getting them in the ground in the fall to enjoy next spring. But life got busy. Suddenly, it’s the holidays, and …

With a name like butterfly bush, it’s easy to see why Buddleja is such a popular landscaping plant. After all, who wouldn’t enjoy more of these beautiful insects in their …

Hostas are clearly the most popular plants in the shade garden. And why wouldn’t they be? They’re probably the easiest perennial to grow. They have beautiful lush foliage, in sizes …

One of the highlights of coming back home from my late summer vacation is getting to interact and reconnect with my own garden. I did not have a gardening-free vacation, …

Spring flowers are always a breath of fresh air after a winter of dark, dreary colors. There’s nothing more delightful than the bright yellow of daffodils, the blue-purple of grape …

Urine is an excellent natural fertilizer and among the very oldest ways to create fertile soil. After all, pee plays quite a crucial role in the earth’s nitrogen cycle. Mammals …

One of the great things about hostas is how low-maintenance they are. Of all the perennials in your garden, hostas are probably the closest thing you’ll find to a set-it-and-forget-it …

Agapanthus, often called the “African Lily,” is immediately recognizable with its stunning, spherical clusters of blue or white flowers that bloom on tall stalks above lush, green strap-like leaves. They’re …

When you think of planting perennial flowers, spring might automatically come to mind: birds creating a cacophony of noise, gusty breezes drying out the mud, and the excitement of new …

Agapanthus is one of the few plants I can think of where the word “regal” is well and truly fitting. You have a plant with a full crown of emerald …

If you could wave a magic wand and change one thing about the plants that you grow, what would that be? Predictably, my answer to this question varies with the …

When I started writing this article, my first draft was titled The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Gardeners, an obvious riff on the self-help bestselling classic. But the more I …

Lavender is one of those plants that nearly everyone has in their landscape or garden. And why not? It’s easy to maintain, the pollinators love it, and its classic scent …

Summer is a time to eat al fresco and have ice cream; and maybe lounge in the hammock. Yes, theoretically I know that. But what do you think happens when …

If you garden long enough, you’ll eventually experience the joy of waging war against a plant you just had to have, only to find out later that it was bent …

Hostas are great. Everyone loves hostas. You’ve probably got a few yourself. Hostas have a lot going for them. They’re ridiculously easy to care for (basically ignore them). You can …

Lavender is a classic plant prized as both a flower and an herb. It is a classic plant that makes its way into gardens all over the world. Just the …

Gardening is a beautiful way of making more space for nature in our lives. Many gardeners want to grow more plants that add food and shelter for wildlife. But a …

It’s everywhere. Across the street at your neighbors. Every house in that new development has it. Your sister grows it in her flower bed next to the backdoor. It’s at …

There’s nothing quite so lovely in a summer garden than a rosebush in full bloom. Roses are truly the quintessential flower. With their characteristic unfurling bud and timeless scent, you’d …