Have you thought about what you might bring inside to add interest and warmth to your house as we head into cold weather?
You may be interested in a certain look for a specific corner of your room. If you are an HGTV fan, you may have seen designers pairing different types of potted plants for indoor décor. What plants should you consider?
Are you fed-up with trying to coax life out of your sun-loving plants in a less-than-desirable location? Do you love the trees in your yard but wish you could have the colorful garden your sunny neighbors seem to grow effortlessly?
It might be that you need to embrace your shade and grow something different. Don’t try to fight nature. Instead, dig into these unusual and marvelous shade-loving plants to find inspiration for those tough spots in your yard.
How many of us were actually listening when we learned about flowers and reproduction in grade school science class?
Most people probably have a vague memory of how it all works – pistils and stamens, pollen and seeds and all that – but not until you try your hand at growing plants does it really start to add up.
One of the most interesting new trends in gardening this year is the addition of black flowers and plants many people are making to their gardens.
Whether you love the Gothic allure of black, deep red and deep purple flowers and foliage, or you love the contrast and dimension black adds to anything visual, these are just a few of the many black plants in the world. They are as diverse and lovely as the colorful plants in the same family. Who knows? This could be the best way to liven up your garden!
Gardening can be one of the most rewarding and one of the most time-consuming jobs. For the most part, at-home gardeners do it for the love of nature and the improvement of their homes.
This is especially true when you are trying to coax a vine up onto your brick walls or to cover an old fence with a gorgeous climbing plant. Climbing plants can give your whole yard, or house an organic and inviting feel, like stepping into a green room. They can also hide a broken-down fence or add charm to a brick exterior that seems too austere.
Hanging baskets are the decorative surprises everyone loves to give their mom for Mother’s Day. They are a great way to bring color and charm to any house. In addition, they add a pop of color that will stay all summer rather than die off in a few days.
The trouble with hanging baskets is that they can die out quickly too if not cared-for properly.
How do you keep them going all summer, if not longer?
The practice of foraging for wild edibles has been around for, well, forever. Even in these last few decades as industrial farming has dominated the food scene, foraging for certain things has remained in the social consciousness. This is especially if you grow up around farmers or in a more rural area.
There is nothing better in the summer than that first strawberry rhubarb pie or crisp. The two plants are ripe at the same time and if you can get the strawberries fresh from the garden and super sweet, there’s nothing better than that tart, sweet pairing.
For years when I was growing up, my parents would move to a new house and inevitably plant an azalea or rhododendron bush. And inevitably, they would be stunted, die or not bloom properly.
My mom attributed this to the wrong quality soil, and I have since learned she was partially right. However, there are other things to consider depending on where you live. These bushes are gorgeous when healthy and in full-bloom. If you take care to plant them in the right soil and mixture of sun and shade, you can reap the benefits for many years.