Yarrow, Achillea millefolium, has been known and loved for thousands of years, and in fact, its name came from the Greek hero, Achilles.
Mylar blankets and a 65-watt incandescent lightbulb kept my greenhouse 11 degrees warmer.
The north-facing wall of our greenhouse is bordered by a mixed evergreen planting, so it contributes very little light. It also is the predominantly windward side. The impact in the winter is significant. I decided to replace it with a more efficient wall.
We have a voracious Chinese Wisteria, and sometimes it gets ahead of us. Suddenly it makes an appearance in our Juniper border 20' away, and here's how we safely deal with it. A variation of this technique can be used on Ailanthus.
All judging and voting is finished and we are ready to unveil the Best of Show winners, along with the blue ribbon winners of each category. Come in and check it out!
The first place winning photos in each category are now revealed, but voting isn't over! You now must choose your favorites from among them. The ones with the most votes will receive the Best of Show award. You have only 24 hours to vote.
Late July and early August are a great time of the year here in Indiana. Summer is in full swing, the State Fair is just getting ready to begin, and barbecues are roaring!
Built with cement block, cement glue in a tube, and leftover granite countertop.
Not only can online shopping sometimes be cheaper than shopping at the store, but sometimes your selection is better and there might be FREE delivery to your door!
The entries are in and it's time to check out the photos that were submitted in our first annual photo contest. Each member may cast up to 3 votes in each category, so head over to the photo contest page, start browsing the many beautiful photos, and cast your votes for your favorites.
Most of my plants are perennials, but I have a few bulbs that are not hardy in my zone. Here's how I solved the winter storage problem.
If you have a specific plant in your garden that requires consistent moisture, you can make a plastic beverage bottle function like a watering globe, only better.
Stachytarpheta mutabilis is a hummingbird magnet!
I started using white pine shavings when I badly needed some carbon (dry browns) for a new compost mixture and didn't know where to get straw or dried leaves. I bought a bale of white pine shavings instead because they were cheap, not too heavy for me to carry, and easy to work with. I now like having them on hand for several uses, and I keep finding more.
Create a unique set of wind chimes with a beautiful, silvery, delicate sound from old pieces of silver plate flatware.
Keiki is a Hawaiian word for "child." In the plant world, it is actually a clone of the parent plant. This term is often used in orchid propagation.
Keep using those jack-o'-lanterns after Halloween. Use them as planters.
The term "winter protection for plants" can be a little different for those of us in warmer climates. It is possible for us to overwinter some plants right in their pots.
You don't know where you're going unless you know where you've been. Plant tags and markers can get lost or carried away by varmints, but a garden map tucked away in your garden notebook will always be there when spring arrives. Here are some easy tips for an accurate map.
Storksbill geraniums (Pelargoniums) are a beloved staple in summer containers and landscaping. Every fall most of the summer's selections end up being tossed out, or composted, without a second thought. What you might not know is that Pelargoniums are simple to overwinter, and not as houseplants that require care!
Here's a way of labeling your plants that's cute and fun!
After the brutal winter of 2013 I realized that I needed to improve my HFGH if I was going to use it year-round. I believed the doors were one of the major problems. I was able to get a very good Andersen 6' sliding patio door and wanted to incorporate it into the existing structure.
Learning Latin names is not as difficult as you might think. A little at a time, we can learn the Latin names of our plants and avoid quite a bit of confusion.
Today we begin the first of our annual photography contests, and there are excellent prizes for the winners. The contest is open for entries now. Break out your best photos for this year's contest! Sponsored by American Meadows and High Country Gardens.
Native plants possess tremendous value for the backyard gardener. They add beauty, provide important habitat and food for native pollinators and other wildlife, help to preserve our natural heritage, require little maintenance once established, and serve to control soil erosion through well-adapted root systems. Current estimates indicate that, of the 20,000 plant species native to North America, almost 25 percent are at risk of becoming extinct. In this article, I will focus on two native species you might want to help preserve by planting them in your own garden: Milkweeds and Solidagos.