Daylilies, a Rainbow of ColorDaylilies come in a seemingly endless variety of colors and color combinations. Describing the actual color of a daylily can vary from person to person; we may see color differently or describe colors using different terms.
The Lenington All-American AwardThe Lenington All-American Award is given out each year by The American Hemerocallis Society. The daylily must have been introduced for at least 10 years to be eligible. The award is based on cultivar performance in all parts of the country.
Daylilies for DinnerGrowing up I ate more when grazing in the gardens than when sitting at the dinner table. Even now I wander around tasting my tomatoes, a nibble here, a nibble there, a leaf of spearmint, a daylily bud or two, a pinch of rosemary, basil . . . Yes. I do. I nibble my daylilies.
Welcome to Daylilies Week at All Things PlantsIn honor of our 50,000 photos posted to our daylilies database, this week is Daylilies Week at All Things Plants!
Fall Tip: Plant Wildflower SeedsSome wildflower plants may start to come up in fall; others will come up in late winter or in spring. Get out those wildflower seeds and plant them this month if possible! If you don't have any, find some for sale or trade. With fall planting, there will be a good chance for earlier blooms.
Honey Bee CastesLike all organisms that live in a social culture, honey bees have different types of members. For honey bees it's a queen, drones and workers. Let's take a look at each group and see what makes them important to the survival of their colony.
Garden Makeovers: Moon GardenDid you ever think about giving your gardens a total makeover? My newest garden is probably ten years old and over the years it has had additions randomly tucked in here and there. I've been thinking about a change and I think I'll start with white. How about a Moon Garden where an old patchwork garden used to be?
Repelling Weevils in Your KitchenWe were fighting weevils in our kitchen cabinets for a long stretch. We'd get rid of a batch of food, scour the cabinets, put everything back neatly, and a week or so later there were holes in the new flour bag - again! Aargh! I heard somewhere that rosemary would repel them, so I pruned my bush and put a few tips at the very back of each shelf of the cabinets. No more weevils! Every once in a while I sweep out the dry rosemary needles and put fresh tips in.
Looking for Magic: BasilAunt Bett always said, "Look for the magic that hides in plants, look real close and you'll find it." Most of the time we don't have to look very far; most of the time we can find magic in our own herb gardens.
Hanging Plants: Recycling Baby Crib PanelsToo many houseplants? This is a great way to utilize something old and make it totally useful again.
Bringing Your Houseplants Back IndoorsIt’s that time of year when we’ll want to start bringing our houseplants back indoors for the winter. Most houseplants are tropical plants and will experience damage at temperatures below 40 - 50 degrees F. Before you bring them in there are a few things you can do that will help in the long run.
Looking for Magic: RosemaryAunt Bett always said, "Look for the magic that hides in plants, look real close and you'll find it." You know, rosemary isn't just another pretty face; let's see if we can find its magic.
What's Blooming in SeptemberWhile the heat and drought did a number on our perennials, many are making a comeback, given the rain and cooler weather that September brought. Come on in and see what's blooming and who the winner of our August mystery blossom contest is.
ATP Podcast #0.5: Spring Blooming BulbsIt's fall and that means it is time to plant bulbs for spring blooms. I'm joined by Jay Hutchins, grin-eral manager of Brent & Becky Bulbs and he's going to give us a primer on these cheerful spring blooming plants.
Looking for Magic: Black PepperAunt Bett always said, "Look for the magic that hides in plants, look real close and you'll find it." We get so used to seeing condiments at every meal, sometimes we don't even notice them and we certainly never think of the plants that are their source. Most of them provide nutrition our bodies need, whether we realize it or not. So is black pepper magic? Surely not. Oh, but let's take a closer look.
Cheap Garden LightsThrift-store glass globes can be topped with the light portions from solar stake-lights and placed throughout the garden as hanging or staked accent lights.
Looking for Magic: CilantroThe scent of cilantro didn't impress me a few years ago. I planted it in my garden as a border plant only because I loved the look of its lacy foliage. Funny how a few years can make a huge difference. Aunt Bett always said, 'Look for the magic that hides in plants, look real close and you'll find it." Here's my take on cilantro now; I looked for the magic.
A Quick Tip for FallClean your containers well at the end of the growing season. This prevents the spread of disease, can kill eggs laid by bugs, and in the spring they’ll be ready to use when you need them.
A Quick Tip: Grow Peppers in Your LandscapingBell pepper plants make for a very nice dark green accent in the flower beds and can make more delicately colored plants really 'pop' into view.
All About ATP: MicrobadgesYou've seen the little icons on the top right of each post. Find out what they are and how to get your own.
All About ATP: AcornsAcorns are the currency of All Things Plants. Find out how to get them and what to do with them once you have a stockpile.
Another Recycling Idea for a Gallon JugMany of us look to re-use plastic items that normally end up in the trash. This is a favorite of mine.
A Great Way To Start SeedsNoticing that the deep plugs many plants are sold in grow vigorously due to their well developed root system, I decided to start seeds in pots modeled after these plugs: long, narrow, tubular containers with good drainage.
All About ATP: The NewsletterATP has a weekly newsletter that is mailed out in the wee hours of Saturday morning; ready for your weekend browsing.
