Expert Advice
[caption id="attachment_2853" align="alignleft" width="225"] Rudbeckia maxima in my garden last year at the end of June[/caption] [caption id="attachment_2854" align="alignleft" width="194"] Rudbeckia maxima bud[/caption] We gardeners read a plethora of magazines and e-zines on this subject dear to our hearts, always…
Houseplants
Sago palm Plants that come to my house to live indoors quickly learn that they have to abide by the rules. The primary rule is: No fussing (leaf drop or wilting) about infrequent watering. Therefore, I have several Christmas cactus…
Underused Bulbs
Every avid gardener lusts for as much color as possible in the landscape. Integrating bulbs into the landscape is a very effective design tool for extending and intensifying the amount of color. [caption id="attachment_792" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Eranthis"][/caption] We often neglect…
Tools I Can’t Live Without
Gardening isn’t all joy. Watching the garden evolve and change with the seasons is one of a gardener’s greatest pleasures but the pleasures also entail a lot of work. Therefore, the avid gardener is always searching for tools that will…
Garden Aids
Some items useful in the garden are technically not tools but they are still extremely useful. [caption id="attachment_826" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Purple tub"][/caption] I love my bright purple, ten and a half gallon plastic tub (trug). I fill it with weeds…
Weed Prevention in Spring Vegetable Gardens
[caption id="attachment_841" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Anemone blanda"][/caption] Spring is coming sooner than usual. Yesterday, as I walked through the garden, I noticed that my Anemone blanda was blooming. In a normal year (is there such a thing any more?), the anemone…
Winter Hedge Care
[caption id="attachment_833" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Hedges in winter"][/caption] The month of March is the perfect time to evaluate and prune hedges. Most evergreen hedges can be trimmed twice a year for shape, in late winter and again in midsummer. Prune most…