Story and Photos by Yvonne Lelong Bordelon If you enjoy large, showy, saucer-shaped flowers that attract hummingbirds and pollinators, then you will love native rosemallow. This cold-hardy, heat-tolerant hibiscus grows well in wet places or in moist full-sun to part-shade beds and perennial borders, in formal or naturalized settings. Several outstanding cultivars and hybrids have …
Can plants really repel mosquitoes? Story and Photos by Sue Hughes It’s summer, and that means war … on mosquitos! In 2014 Bill Gates called the mosquito “The Deadliest Animal in the World.” They carry a host of debilitating and often fatal diseases. Yes, we can douse ourselves with chemicals, light some incense, or plug …
Invite the mints into your herb garden Story by Kristi Cook Of all the herbs one can grow, the mints (Mentha spp.) are perhaps the easiest and most prolific. Enticing names like chocolate mint, pineapple mint, ginger mint, and peppermint, make many of us unwitting “collectors,” filling our already overflowing gardens with each new flavor …
Making use of the latest outdoor lighting technologies Story by Katie Jackson A moonlit garden is enchanting, but sometimes the moon needs a little help shedding light on a garden’s nighttime beauty. That’s when it’s time to turn to technology. One of the most helpful developments in the outdoor lighting realm is the increased availability …
Decorating with fruits and vegetables Story and Photos by Loretta Gillespie Decorating your table with fruits and vegetables is fun and easy. And it’s not only prettier than a floral centerpiece, but it’s more economical – you can eat it! In the summer you can turn a simple watermelon or honeydew into a stunning vase …
Spicy herb or an herbal spice? Story and Photos by A.J. Heinsz-Bailey Cilantro (Coriandrum sativum) starts life as a green rosette of fragrant, tasty leaves and with the arrival of warm weather, sends up slender, two-foot-tall stems with tiny white flowers that produce tasty seeds that we know as the spice called coriander. Cilantro is …
Keep your landscape dressed to impress with these large flowers Story and Photos by Keri Byrum Taking photos of flowers in your garden is easier than ever. Big, bold blooms are a joy to share with friends and family and a fun way to showcase your garden. These tips will help you grow plants with …
Sometimes a plant’s failure is obvious … sometimes not so much By Dan Gill I love lazy June days when it’s too hot to work in the garden. The temperatures are not quite as torrid as they will be later on. And that certain desperation that comes as scorching day follows scorching day has not …
Try fragrant plants around the front door to your home Story by Jennifer Williams Treat yourself and your guests to an unforgettable entrance by placing fragrant plants at your home’s entry. While there are thousands to choose from, your climate and site conditions are going to dictate which plants will work best for you. The …
Growing plants with a purpose Story and Photos by Cindy Shapton When we moved from our city suburb to the country, I made a decision to be more conscience of plant material choices. No longer feeling the pressure to be just another pretty garden, I could chose plants with a purpose, ones that could move …
