Indoors or out, the charm of geraniums can sweep you away. Their festivity is insuppressible. Geraniums flaunt all the warm, cheerful colors of the spectrum, sharpened with an immaculate dash of white. Their leaves are a delight to the senses. Consider, for example, the soft fur of kitten’s ear geranium, the spicy fragrance of the … Read more
What do you think when geraniums are mentioned? Gardeners in frostless or near frostless regions probably visualize the showy pelargonium or one of its ilk. But speak of geraniums to the gardener of the Northwest or of England or too many an eastern gardener, and they will refer to the hardy geraniums or cranesbills, wildflowers … Read more
Have you ever asked yourself: I think in many cases, it is too much fussy care. So instead, try giving your geraniums a little neglect. Don’t Overwater Of course, they respond to care but don’t overdo it. Don’t overwater. Let the soil become thoroughly dry, and then give them a good soaking. In California, they … Read more
Training slender-stemmed plants to a treelike or standard form is not a new gardening technique. But have you tried it with tree geraniums? One of the most striking patio displays imaginable is that of a half dozen pots of standard shell pink geraniums against a background of blue iris, double red varieties against a white … Read more
As plants go, phlox is a truly American plant. To begin with, all the 50+ or so accredited species hail from this continent. The lone dissenter is from Siberia. Phlox belongs in the Polemoniaccae family, which means “flame.” The flowers are generally borne in panicles, cymoses, clusters, trusses, or heads, with rounded individual blooms, sometimes garnished with … Read more
Phlox can truly set your garden aflame with splendor, from early spring into late summer and until frost. The proper selection of species makes a possible succession of bloom from April to November. The Phlox flower has been long considered the backbone of the perennial border and is exclusively an American contribution to the garden. … Read more
True Geraniums will bloom indoors in the winter if given enough sunlight. Unlike most plants, geraniums have no dormant season when they are not supposed to bloom. A dozen different geraniums will provide a window sill of fun throughout winter days when snow and ice and salting down the walks is the rule of the … Read more
Question: Should Iris Plants Be Mulched? Amy J, Miss. Answer: Bearded irises like the heat and “baked soil” of midsummer. They need no mulch in winter unless there is a danger that freezing and thawing will heave newly set plants from the soil. In Mississippi, mulching should be unnecessary in winter and even harmful in summer. During … Read more
It isn’t easy to imagine a more varied, more interesting, or pleasing lot of plants than is embraced in the genus Fritillaria aka Chess flower. The books tell us there are more than 70 distinct species, and some of these, like the checkered Lily flower and the Crown Imperial, are further divided into several named … Read more
The flowers that bloom in the spring, like golden daffodils and grape-hyacinths won’t bloom in the spring if the bulbs are not planted in the fall. Below are some Spring Flowering Bulbs along with bloom time info, planting tips and suggestions. Crocus Blooming Time: Early spring Height: 4″-6” inches Depth and Distance Apart: 3″ deep; 3″ … Read more