Ways to combat our changing weather Story by Theresa Badurek Our climate is changing. If you’ve been gardening for a while, you have probably already noticed this. Seasons and storms swing in with more wildness and strength than before. Long, hot droughts, drenching tropical rains, tidal flooding, exotic pest invasions, heavy winds, and more. How …
Story and Photos by Michelle Reynolds I’ve always had an appreciation for sumac (Rhus spp.). During summer vacations and weekend trips, as I travel across the state to various destinations, our native sumacs keep my eyes and my mind alert. Looking for sumacs on roadsides, hillsides, along power lines and railroad rights-of-way, in fallow fields, …
Native plant activist and anti-invasive crusader Story by Kristi Hendricks Helen Hamilton has been a native plant activist for years. At 85, she’s still energetically carrying forth the message of the importance of native plants to the ecosystem – giving talks, writing for publications, and collecting samples of native plants. You can hear her love …
Three favorite summer-blooming beauties Story and Photos by Troy B. Marden troybmarden.com June is hydrangea season in Tennessee. Sure, there are hydrangeas that begin flowering as early as May and continue through August and even September, but June is peak flowering time for my personal favorites and the time of year I enjoy them the …
This master gardener transforms her family acreage into a wildlife paradise Story and Photos by Susan Albert Judi Hively of Hominy, who gardens on the land where her grandparents once lived, said she must have inherited the gardening gene from her mother, who liked flower gardening, and her grandfather, who always tended a vegetable garden. …
One Tampa gardener’s quest to grow and educate Story and Photos by Kenny Coogan kennycoogan.com “It’s funny, I spend some time out here doing things that I need to do,” Virginia Overstreet says in her Georgia accent, “then I’ll come out here with no to-do list and before I know it, I’ll spend three hours …
Stokes’ aster Story and Photos by Norman Winter Stokes’ asters (Stokesia laevis) are wonderful native perennials that attract all sorts of pollinators – from bees to butterflies. Its striking blue flowers and fiery orange butterflies make for a winning combination. The Stokes’ aster is a native from Louisiana eastward to North Carolina. Surprisingly, they are …
A look at Florida’s native palms Story by Theresa Badurek When you think of Florida, you may picture palm trees swaying in an orange-blossom scented breeze. Tropical romantic scenes painted by savvy real estate investors lured many a dreamer (and quite a few cold Michiganders) to Florida’s shores. But how realistic is that picture when …
West Palm Beach landscape designer Todd MacLean knows a thing or two about adding texture to a garden Story and Photos by Tom Hewitt Lush vegetation surrounds the Spanish bungalow he shares with real estate agent Geoff Darnell, covering almost 1/3 of an acre. But even though green is the predominant color, it is a …
Making a garden, and saving our springs with native plants Story by Bill Pitts Photo by Ana Eire Dr. Robert Sitler is a specialist in Mayan culture and author of The Living Maya. He is also the most successful native plant gardener I know in Central Florida. Fifteen years ago, Bob was part of the …
