Tools and techniques to help in the garden when life throws you a curve By Margeaux Emery Injury, illness, arthritis, and other health conditions can bring the need to change how one gardens. A stroke, for example, can result in loss of strength in hands and arms. Arthritis causes pain in movement. Whatever difficulty life …
The Three Little Pigs got it right! Story and Photography by Susan Jasan We enjoy what we see in our home and garden, but what you don’t see is critical to the long-term enjoyment of your landscape and your gardens. Just as the classic children’s tale The Three Little Pigs teaches us, it’s important to …
Using living plants to control energy costs Story and Photography by Helen Newling Lawson Everyone knows how soothing a carpet of green grass feels on bare feet or how the shade of a large tree offers relief on a summer’s day. But did you know you could harness the cooling effect of living plants to …
Keep these plants away from each other By Diane Beyer Everyone has had an experience with a bad neighbor. There are various reasons for considering a neighbor “bad,” but most of them have an element of “chemistry” in them somewhere. Some people just don’t get along. It’s no different in the plant world. Since plants …
How to make a whimsical chair planter Story and Photography by Carolyn Tomlin Creative gardeners are always on the lookout for unusual objects that provide a whimsical touch in the garden. Giving a second life to a discarded item is not only economical but adds a fun-loving spirit to your space. One such treasure was …
Dealing with sunlight transitions in the landscape Story and Photography by Annie Barbas Instant garden changes came in the form of a tornado flinging branches on rooftops and toppling trees. Live oaks (Quercus virginiana), some more than 70 years old fell, clipping the gable and splitting the satsuma tangerine tree (Citrus unshiu) while also eliminating …
Is there a tapestry hedge in your future? Story and Photography By Lynn Carlson We are all familiar with long rows of identical evergreen shrubs or trees, Leyland cypress (×Hesperotropsis leylandii) for example. But tapestry hedge includes several species of evergreens, or a mixture of evergreen and deciduous species, some tall, some short. Look to …
From plants to pathways … easy ways to handle a tough site Story and Photos by Helen Newling Lawson Many landscapes have at least some degree of slope. In certain situations, a slope can be a design asset, allowing you to create interesting features or place certain garden elements at eye level. But steep slopes …
Garden thresholds can multiply your green spaces Story and Photography by Helen Yoest Whether it’s to a garden or life, thresholds symbolize new beginnings. For brides, being carried across the threshold of a new home marks the start of a new phase of life. For my own wedding in 1988, my husband and I were …
10 ways to keep critters out of your fruits and vegetables By A.J. Heinsz-Bailey The first vine-ripened tomato of the season is always the best. You have faithfully watered it, delicately weeded around the plant, and carefully inspected it every day. Tomorrow it will be ready for harvesting. The next morning, you enter the garden …
