Winter in the NorthI've always had a chuckle when I've seen articles in garden magazines that talk about planting for winter interest. Here in zone 3, everything usually has frozen before the middle of October and is covered with snow shortly afterward. But then I started looking around.
Growing Variegated Garden PhloxThey are sometimes startling in the contrast between their leaves and flowers, but variegated cultivars of Phlox paniculata put on a bright and colorful display in the garden.
Renewing a Favorite African VioletIf you have a favorite African Violet and it has grown too large, looks scruffy, or has a turkey neck (it has lost its lower leaves and the stem looks long and lanky), but you hate to throw it away because it has sentimental value, or because it's a favorite, you can renew it. Without the lengthy process of starting a new plant from leaves, you can have a rejuvenated blooming plant.
Cleaning Tool for Garden ContainersI've found that a round, pointed-edged paint brush is the perfect tool for cleaning pots, trays, and plant six-packs. It gets into edges and corners far better than a conventional scrub brush or cloth. The hard bottom of the paint brush is great for pushing out indents in the six-packs that were caused by ejecting the plants.
