TL;DR (Too Long; Didn’t Read) Growing Calatheas successfully means shifting your mindset. Stop thinking like a regular houseplant owner and start thinking like a “rainforest keeper.” The goal is to replicate their native environment. The …
TL;DR (Too Long; Didn’t Read) Brown edges on Calatheas are a cry for help, not a sign of failure. The most common causes are low humidity, improper watering (both too much and too little), and …
TL;DR You took the time and effort to develop a magnificent Weigela, and you love how its trumpet-shaped blooms bloom in the spring and how deep green its leaves are. But when summer comes, a …
TL;DR The Journey from Flower to Seed Pod A new, calmer process starts after the beautiful, aromatic show of a lilac in full bloom has vanished. You might see the old flower trusses progressively change, …
TL;DR The Unforgiving Truth About Celery In the gardening world, celery has a bad reputation that even experienced gardeners are afraid of. People say it’s picky, demanding, and very hard to cultivate. For people who …
TL;DR A 20-Year Act of Horticultural Faith Putting in an asparagus bed is a very important act of faith in gardening. A tomato plant gives you its rewards in a few months, while asparagus needs …
One of the best things about gardening is growing your own asparagus. It’s a perennial promise: once you grow it, it will give you tender, tasty spears every spring for decades. It shows a promise …
Hey there, fellow greenie! If you happened upon the lovely Pellionia repens, you have great taste. This plant really grabs with its elegant trailing habit and finely patterned leaves. Perhaps you’re wondering if it’s a …
A bag of pricey ‘gourmet’ birdseed was the beginning of it all. One afternoon, as I was filling my feeder, I stopped to admire the stunning pearly orbs that were mixed in with the sunflower …
Isn’t the vision so clear? A lovely lavender plant on your windowsill, its silver-green leaves a lovely touch to your decor, and every time you go by, it gives out that distinct, peaceful smell. It’s …
We learn a simple, deeply ingrained equation in gardening: food and water make plants bigger and better. It’s a satisfying loop, a basic exchange of caring that we almost instinctively know how to do. We …
Imagine how beautiful it can be...
Basic Garden Planning: Layout and Design for Beginners Looking out into an empty backyard can be absolutely horrible as well as exciting. It is a …
Are you gazing at a stretch of barren ground where you want for a rich, green lawn or a patchwork, depressed-looking yard? I see it …
(even if you have never gardened before) Have you ever stood in the produce section staring at a depressed-looking tomato and wondered, “I wish I …
Picture this: you’re standing in your backyard, coffee in hand, surveying that perpetually soggy patch near the downspout where nothing seems to grow except weeds …
Spend a time visualizing your patio, balcony, or small sunny area by front door. Imagine then a lovely tree standing there. Imagine its graceful branches …
A summer garden offers a particular type of charm. Warm dirt on your hands, the hum of contented bees, and the promise of fresh, sun-ripened …
Having a big lawn causes a certain kind of sticker shock. It occurs in the home improvement store’s fertilizing section. You stand there staring at …
You accomplished exactly what was needed. You bought the lovely pot, the elegant bag of soil, the ideal small plant from the nursery. You gave …
Oh, the charming conundrum! Whether you’re a seasoned master trying to expand your green kingdom or you’re just dipping your toes into the amazing world …
Every beautiful garden begins as a dream. You see what I mean, not exactly? Tubs of luscious red tomatoes, armloads of vivid zinnias, and crisp, …