“Let’s give a thought to design when we plant the small fruits in our gardens. Let’s plant for pleasure and appearance as well as for fruit.” J. Harold Clarke Many a row of strawberries or other berries and many a grapevine have been planted without thought of garden design, just set in what seems the … Read more
Have you ever gone on vacation and run into someone who seemed to fit in perfectly, only to realize they’re not really from around here? That seems to be a very common problem for Plumeria (ploo-MEER-ee-a), a genus of 11 species and hundreds of cultivars found worldwide. Plumerias are native to the Caribbean and South to Central … Read more
Question: Will creeping Phlox do well in a shaded location? My elm trees shade the bed where I want to plant some perennials that would do well. Can you suggest something else that would be more satisfactory? KL, Kansas. Answer: Creeping Phlox (Phlox subulata) is quite versatile and will bloom under somewhat variable conditions. While it does best … Read more
The well-designed garden is here to stay. The garden or landscape planned for easy maintenance allows you to get the most from the garden with the least effort. This allows the “lazy homeowner” who wants to spend their time in the garden but cannot have a good garden without undue effort. Of course, we would … Read more
In our country’s pioneer days, over 175 years ago, there existed immense areas of forest where farms and cities are now found. The first thing the early settlers did was to begin clearing the land of timber so it could be cultivated and farmed. As the ground was cleared, it became necessary to build fences … Read more
The Sunny Knock Out® Rose (aka: ‘Radsunny’ RAD-sun-nee) is a perennial, deciduous rose developed by botanist Bill Radler of Wisconsin. It is a hybrid member of the Rosaceae family of plants. The plant’s botanical name is Rose Sunny Knock Out ‘Radsunny.’ You may hear it referred to as: So how do you grow and care … Read more
Plumeria is a genus of popular plants that has small trees with a pretty and aesthetically pleasing design. They’re commonly grown as a decorative plant in the backyard of households in warm regions. The leaves of the plumeria plant are unique and pretty, with vibrant green color. However, due to some issues, the leaves can … Read more
Bidens (Bi’dens), most commonly known as Spanish needles, is a generic name for several flowering plants belonging to the Asteraceae family. The name, Bidens, comes from an amalgamation of two Latin words – “Bis,” which means “two,” and “Dens,” which means “tooth.” The name refers to the flowers or fruits of these plants that barbed … Read more
Garden flowers that do not attain the perfection of growth and the abundance of bloom expected may be suffering from hunger. Yet, too much fertilizer can be equally harmful. Commercial fertilizers are most successfully used when the amounts recommended on the package are being carefully followed. Plants burned by too much commercial fertilizer are usually … Read more
Why are the clematis hybrids seen in comparatively few gardens today? These flowering vines are considered a little difficult, but with simple “know-how” they can be enjoyed easily by most gardeners. As an amateur, I have grown these attractive vines until my garden is like “fairy-land” from late spring through early summer. Styling Your Clematis … Read more