Try growing Astilbe for beautiful, showy flowers that majestically sit above fern-like leaves. This perennial plant thrives in partial to full shade, making it a favorite plant for shade gardens. Its ability to grow where other plants struggle makes it the perfect choice for low-light areas. Pair astible with other shade plants such as hostas…
Herbs bring fresh flavor to recipes and are easy to grow, but not all herbs have the same life cycle. This list of annual, perennial, and biennial herbs will help you select the perfect herb for your garden. Annual herbs complete their life cycle in one season, biennial herbs take two years to grow, and…
If you are looking for an easy-to-grow vegetable, ranking second in popularity after tomatoes, try growing green beans. Green beans are also called French beans, string beans, and snap beans. They come in two types – bush beans and pole beans. Snap beans are a great vegetable for beginning gardeners. Even kids can get involved….
Cosmos bipinnatus ‘Candy Stripe’ is a low-maintenance annual with large, single white flowers that are striped with dark pink edges. It is a popular plant in English cottage gardens. This plant has a long blooming season, flowering from early summer into fall. It’s great for cut flowers and looks nice in container gardens, too. Keep…
A cottage garden blends beauty and practicality in a relaxed, welcoming way. It’s a mix of flowers, herbs, and edibles that feel natural yet intentional. In this guide, you’ll learn simple ways to create the look of a cottage garden in your yard. We’ll discuss edging ideas and features that make the style so popular….
False indigo plant (Baptisia australis) is a long-lived native perennial that adds height and color to garden beds. After blooming, blue false indigo develops black seed pods that add visual interest and food for birds in the winter. It is deer and rabbit-resistant. Baptisia plant also attracts hummingbirds and beneficial insects like bees and butterflies….
Propagating hydrangeas to get new plants for free can be done in several ways – hydrangea stem cuttings, tip rooting, air layering and division of the mother plant. Growing hydrangeas from seed is also possible, but not as widely done as other forms of propagatio In today’s article, I will show how each of these…
Growing herbs for kitchen gardens is so easy to do that any home cook can have a supply of them on hand all the time. Why pay retail prices for herbs? There is nothing quite like growing herbs to add tons of flavor to recipes. They add a fullness of flavor that dried herbs just…
Hosta ‘Stained Glass’ is a standout variety of hosta that adds color and texture to shady garden spots. Its bold leaves and unique variegation make it easy to recognize and fun to grow. In this post, you’ll learn what makes this plant different from other hostas. We’ll cover its leaf color, flower features, and growth…
Keeping your garden thriving during the hottest months can be a challenge. These summer garden tips will help you keep plants healthy and productive. From smart watering habits to protecting your soil, small changes make a big difference. Your garden can stay vibrant even in the heat with the right strategies. Pests, weeds, and sun…
Learn everything you need to know about growing chives in pots, including planting instructions, care tips, and pest control. Although you can grow chives in the soil of a vegetable garden, growing potted chives is a great option if you live in an apartment, want to grow herbs indoors, or prefer having an outdoor deck garden….
Gloriosa lily (gloriosa rothschildiana) is a climbing tender perennial that is sure to catch the eye of anyone who likes dramatic flowers. The flame-colored red flowers have scalloped yellow edges and swept back petals. If you have a bare trellis or a wall in your garden that needs spicing up, plant gloriosa and prepare yourself…
If you want to add flavor to your cooking try growing oregano. This perennial herb is easy to care for, even for beginners. Oregano is a fast growing herb with a long producing season. You can use the fresh leaves in recipes, or preserve them for later by freezing and drying them. Learn everything you need…
If you love beautiful perennials, you’ll probably have some irises growing in your garden. This may prompt you to wonder, “When do irises bloom?“. The answer to this question varies. Iris blooming season can be any time from late winter to early fall, depending on the type you grow. Ironically, irises can be one of…
Dinner plate dahlias are showstoppers in the garden, known for their giant, vibrant blooms that can span up to 12 inches across. Growing them successfully requires attention to sun, soil, and consistent care. These dahlias thrive in full sun and well-drained, nutrient-rich soil. They need regular watering and benefit from a feeding schedule throughout the…
Do you have a problem with radishes not growing bulbs? This is a common issue in a vegetable garden. What causes this to happen? Radishes – raphanus sativus – have edible greens which can be used in salads, but the main reason they are grown is for their crunchy and spicy round root. Expecting to…
We are right in the middle of the hottest part of the summer. The early spring bloomers are finished, and now it is time for the tough summer blooming plants to be the stars in the garden. Summer blooming plants have to be able to withstand the high temperatures that come with summer. They also…
This list of hosta companion plants will help you fill in your shade borders with other plants that like refuge from the sun. 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? The answer is easy if you know…
Hydrangea color change is always a surprise to gardeners. You buy a plant with blue blooms only to discover later that the blossoms are now pink. Why does this happen, and what can you do about it? Hydrangeas are a very popular garden plant. They are a perennial shrub that comes in a variety of…
Do you have a shady backyard but still want to grow a vegetable garden? You’re in luck – Below is an assortment of 40 herbs and vegetables that grow in shade and partial shade. All vegetables need some sunlight to grow and produce fruit, but not all vegetables need 6-8 hours of sunlight each day….
Most gardeners may have heard the term “deadheading” when talking about flowers, but what is deadheading? Plant deadheading, also known as “grooming a plant” and “pinching flowers,” is a term used for the process of removing faded or spent flowers to keep the plant tidy and to encourage new blooms. Deadheading flowers is a task…
Thinking of adding new flowers to your garden this year? Check out the list of white flower names and pictures below for inspiration. You can use it to identify white flowers you have seen and liked, or to discover new varieties! Of the 45+ types of white flowers in this list, some are uncommon, while…
This list of flowers that don’t need deadheading is a helpful tool for gardeners interested in reducing time spent on garden maintenance. Deadheading is the process of pinching off faded or spent flowers. It makes the plants look better and encourages them to rebloom. Many plants like to be deadheaded, but there are also plenty…
Every morning I take a garden walk to see what is growing and what needs tending. Today, I spent the morning deadheading daylilies. I have clumps of daylilies – hemerocallis – that have naturalized into plants with numerous blooms on them. Some of them have 12 or 13 blooms out in a day. Since daylily…
Asiatic vs Oriental lilies – are they the same? This is a question that I often get asked by readers. These two types of lilies look similar and share many common traits, but they are two different types of hybrid lilies. Both of these lilies are grown commercially and are popular in cottage gardens. These…
These meditation garden ideas show how easy it is to provide a soothing and peaceful setting in your backyard, to include a lovely place to unwind after the stresses of daily life. Many botanic gardens, such as the Los Angeles Botanical Garden and Memphis Botanic Garden, have Japanese themed gardens that incorporate areas for meditation…