ATP Podcast #95: Save the Monarchs: Grow Milkweed!In this episode Dave and Trish discuss the plight that the monarch butterflies are facing, and talk about some of our favorite milkweed species that we recommend people grow.
Adenium Short Story: A SurvivorSo, for the first time ever, I sought information about the desert rose. Oh my . . . I was loving it to death!
Oh Deer .......Oh DeerThis trick to keep deer out of your flower garden is cheap and easy. It's the best trick that has worked for me, and I live in the woods!
Watering Tricks and Tips for Container GardeningFinding something to look forward to when the hot, dry months of summer would roll around was challenging. Combining unique ideas from books, friends and family, along with my own wit and passion for gardening, I began to look forward to the dry months to see how my watering schedules and plans would work.
The Dalton ProjectSempervivums are plants of many colors, and this changeability is part of the fascination of growing this alpine succulent.
Reuse Potting MixAre you doing a lot of container gardening? The potting mixes always say you should use fresh mix each year, but here is a way to save a little money.
Hibiscus Celebration WrapupWe're nearing the end of our amazing Hibiscus Celebration Week, and it was another great one! Let's have a look at the highlights from the week.
Beloved Around the World: the HibiscusLove for hibiscuses extends literally around the world. There are several hundred species in this large genus of flowering annuals and perennials. Here we'll focus on three main flower types, three species, and their distinctive characteristics.
Hibiscus Section MuenchhusiaWhen a plant genus is large, botanists will sometimes divide the genus into sections, which are smaller groups of similar species. Hibiscus is one genus that has been divided into several sections. One of these sections is the section Muenchhusia.
Scarlet Rose Mallow and One Dark NightIt started like this: She leaned over with her hand cupped around her mouth, and with her soft low voice against my ear, she whispered: "Wear yore darkest clothes, chile, an' meet me right here jus' 'fore dark. We're gonna git some rose maller seeds." "Aunt Bett, marshmalla seeds? Marshmallas don't . . . " That hand clamped itself over my mouth before I could say another word or even take a breath. Her next whisper was a little louder: "Hush yore mouth, chile, ya cain't grab seeds if ya cain't keep quiet!" The night got worse before it got better.
Hibiscuses of the Continental United StatesMany people are familiar with our native Hibiscus moscheutos. It is the source of many of the cultivars sold as Hardy Hibiscus, but there are many other species that grow here in the United States. Here is a look at the species that grow wild in the Continental United States.
Rose Of Sharon: What's in a Name, AnywayA rose is a rose unless it's a Rose of Sharon, and then it's a hibiscus. Some say it's the name of a crocus and others swear it's the name of a tulip and then there's some confusion with the lily of the valley. Poor plant, most likely it lives in a state of constant identity crisis, never knowing on which side of the garden it should grow.
Celebrating HibiscusesWe open the Hibiscus Celebration Week with a look at the top cultivars, top comments, most thumbed images, and more!
Many Veggies Taste Best RawLots of summer veggies taste great raw, straight from the garden.
An All Things Plants Favorite: GarlicWhat is the absolute easiest edible plant you can grow? I spent my entire morning contemplating that question, and nothing came to mind that beats garlic. As everyone knows, it's a bulb, planted in the fall, grown through the winter, and harvested in very early summer. It requires no special care during the growing season, and has absolutely innumerable uses. Let's talk about this incredible plant.
Make Your Ponds More Inviting to FrogsEver wonder why some ponds have frogs and others don't? Help the frogs out with pond plants.
Homemade Humidity Trays for Multiple Orchids (Upgrade)These are inexpensive, very easy to make, and only take a few minutes for each one. They work very well, especially with all the orchids I have in my greenhouse.
The Most Important Garden Pass-AlongWe often refer to an heirloom plant as a pass-along. These are very dear to us, but there is an even more important garden pass-along, which is the garden practices and garden knowledge we adhere to in our own gardens.
Garden PhotographyPhotographs are a great way to document and share gardens and garden history. Here is what I have learned.
Video: Harvesting Salvia SeedsIn this video, Trish shows us how she harvests seeds from her Salvia greggii in our East Texas garden.
Echinaceas Celebration WrapupWe're nearing the end of our Echinaceas Week - let's have a look at the highlights from the week.
Echinacea Clean UpIf you don't like the appearance of your Echinacea seedheads in late summer and early fall, you can still tidy up their appearance and feed the goldfinches and other birds as well. To clean up, I wait until the stalk just below the seedheads turns brown/black. Cut the stalks and bundle like a bouquet and tie to the base of a pole or small tree. I do this so the finches can have the seeds, and it looks neater. The base of a shepherd's hook that holds your birdfeeders is an excellent spot to tie your seed bouquet.
The Tennessee Coneflower: Endangered Species Success StoryOnce thought to be extinct, the Tennessee Coneflower (Echinacea tennesseensis) had a place on the Endangered Species List for decades. Happily, it has now been removed from the list.
All About ConeflowersEasy to grow, beautiful to look at, preferred by butterflies, and good for the body. Every garden should include Echinaceas!
Celebrating Echinaceas!We open the Echinaceas Celebration Week with a look at the top cultivars, top comments, most thumbed images, and more!
