I love to recycle existing items from around the house for my garden decor ideas. Creative gardening ideas really appeal to the whimsical side of me. I must admit that I am not a normal gardener. I don’t enjoy conventional landscape plans. I don’t invest in fancy garden structures or planters. To me, garden…
Caladium tubers are one of the stars of a shade garden because of their brightly colored tropical foliage and rare flower appearance. These tips for the care of caladium plants will help you get the most out of them. If you have a shady patio location, caladiums can be grown in pots or containers. In…
Are you aware that this summer treat is not really a fruit? Get a few growing tips and find out the answers to other questions with this list of fun watermelon facts. 25 Watermelon Facts that Will Surprise You A staple at all summer picnics and barbecues, the watermelon is the most popular melon consumed…
Sicklepod (Cassia Senna obtusifolia) is an annual legume that appears in the spring with yellow flowers and long pods. It is invasive and can cause havoc in cotton, corn and soybean fields. Read on to get some tips for controlling sicklepod. Sometimes plants appear in your garden by way of seeds in new mulch for…
I love watermelons. They are sweet, juicy, messy to eat, and remind me of summer like nothing else does. But did you know that there are many watermelon varieties which you probably haven’t even heard of? Types of Watermelons There are more than 50 watermelon varieties grown around the world. Because of the number of…
This slug resistant hosta is called hosta wheee! As the name suggests, the look of this fun plant is whimsical with an extremely ruffled foliage habit. A recent trip around the JR Raulston Arboretum provided me with a magnificent look at their collection of hostas. I have a large varieties of hostas in my shade…
Dracaena surculosa is a gorgeous plant. It has glossy green leaves and white and yellow splotches over the leaf surface. One can easily see from this photo why it has the common name Dracaena Gold Dust. Botanical facts about Dracaena Surculosa Dracaena surculosa is native to the western tropical Africa rain forest region. Family: Asparagaceae…
Crassula Ovata ‘Hobbit’ is a small shrubby tender succulent that is popular with followers of J.R.R. Tolkien. because of the shape of its leaves. Grow the Hobbit Jade plant if you enjoy succulents with an unusual look. Crassulae are a genus of succulents that are often seen at garden centers. They come in many forms…
Hostas are well known for their delightful foliage that looks wonderful as border plants or in mass plantings. But what do you grow with them? This list of hosta companion plants will help you fill in those borders with other shade loving plants. Every experienced gardener knows how important foliage plants are in the garden. …
Growing Sunflower plants is one of the really fun parts of summer time gardening. These cheery sun-facing flowers are a delight to gardeners who wish to attract birds. What are sunflower plants? Sunflowers (Helianthus annuus) are a member of the Aster family. These big annuals are very easy to grow, which makes them a very popular…
Foxglove biennial plants are spectacular to view. The term biennial means that the plant will grow for two years and then mainly die off. Caring for foxglove is easy – just give it part sun/part shade and evenly moist soil and you’ll be rewarded with these gorgeous flowers. Under favorable conditions, the foxglove plant will…
Hellebores are a long blooming perennial plant that needs very little in the way of maintenance but it does get a bit ragged looking at times of the year. Pruning hellebores will keep your Lenten rose looking its best all year long. What is a hellebore? Hellebore is a herbaceous evergreen perennial plant that has…
This miniature hosta is called Hosta Cat and Mouse. Its small size makes it the perfect choice for those who don’t have a lot of room to garden. A recent trip around the JR Raulston Arboretum provided me with a magnificent look at their collection of hostas. I have a large collection of hostas in…
One of the best things about succulents is their size. It makes them ideal for a dish garden with mixed varieties. This DIY Succulent Arrangement comes together in just minutes and looks wonderful as a table centerpiece. This post may contain affiliate links. I earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you if…
There are many onion varieties so it’s easy to get confused about them. A common question that I get asked is “are shallots and onions the same?” This guide to shallots vs onions will answer not only this question but will also show how shallots are different from other onion types. This post may contain affiliate links.…
Garden Sage is a culinary herb that is often used around the holidays to flavor your stuffing, but I use it all year round as a flavor component of chicken dishes. These tips for sage plant care will help you get the most out of your plant. Sage is not just for Thanksgiving. This fragrant…
Find out why you might have trouble with this pretty rose that took the internet by storm a few years ago with these Osiria Rose care tips. The two toned color of the rose is highly desirable, but the rose is finicky at best. Photos of this hybrid tea rose with a lovely white center…
This quick growing hosta plant is called Hosta ‘Yellow Splash Rim’. It is easy to see where the common name comes from by looking at the colorful leaf margins of the plant. I recently toured the JR Raulston Arboretum and had a great time looking at their shade garden which included many hosta plants. I…
Cotyledon tomentosa is tender succulent that is a lot of fun to grow. It is easy to see where the common name of bear’s paw succulent came from. Those chubby leaves look just like tiny bear’s paws! Each of the leaves are soft and fuzzy with a puffy look and have tiny “teeth” at the edges.…
A forsythia shrub is one of the first harbingers of spring. Who can resist those cherry yellow blooms that appear about the time that the daffodils poke their heads up? What is a Forsythia Shrub? Forsythia is a genus of flowering plants in the olive family Oleaceae. It is native to Eastern Asia and Southeastern Europe.…
Summer is a time for being in the outdoors. But ticks also love the warm temperatures and can be bothersome in your yard and garden. These tips show how to get rid of ticks in the yard as well as a few natural treatment options. Ticks are a nuisance and can be dangerous as well,…
Hosta Kiyosumiensis is a dappled leaf hosta also known as the Mountain Hosta. It is native to Japan. About Hosta Kiyosumiensis The name of this hosta comes from our version of the name of Mount Kiyosumi-yama, a small mountain in Japan with views of Tokyo Bay. The plant grows on this Mountain. In the northern…
The donkey tail succulent is a lovely plump trailing plant that is great in containers. Get some tips for how to grow sedum morganianum to make sure that you keep your succulent super healthy. Succulents like sedum are drought smart plants that are super easy to grow and make fantastic houseplants. Be sure to check…
Transplanting forsythia is a good idea if the perennial has overgrown the original planting area. This task needs some care. These tips for moving forsythia bushes will help with the project. Forsythia shrubs are hardy bushes that are easy to grow and a real show stopper in early spring when their yellow flowers tell us…
Aeonium haworthii – Kiwi Verde is a showy succulent that has spoon shaped leaves with showy tips and color. It has a rosette shape that is very delicate and popular. This pretty succulent is also known by several names – Kiwi Verde, or simply Aeonium Kiwi. Succulents like aeonium are drought smart plants that are super easy to grow…
Confused about what to look for when buying succulents? This guide will walk you through the process and give tips on what to look for and what to avoid. This post may contain affiliate links. I earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you if you purchase through an affiliate link. Succulents are…
