Burlap and BulbsMost 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.
Make a Root Waterer Using Recycled Plastic BottlesIf 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 mutabilisStachytarpheta mutabilis is a hummingbird magnet!
White Pine Shavings, Garden HelperI 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.
Hillbilly Redneck Wind ChimesCreate a unique set of wind chimes with a beautiful, silvery, delicate sound from old pieces of silver plate flatware.
What Is a Keiki?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.
Recycle Your PumpkinKeep using those jack-o'-lanterns after Halloween. Use them as planters.
Winter Weather Protection for Warmer ClimatesThe 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.
Map Your GardenYou 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.
Don't Throw Out Those Pelargoniums at the End of the Season!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!
Cute Way To Label Your PlantsHere's a way of labeling your plants that's cute and fun!
A Sliding Door on the Harbor Freight GreenhouseAfter 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.
Learn the LatinLearning 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.
Announcing the 2014 All Things Plants Photo Contest!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.
Milkweed and SolidagoNative 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.
Mountain MintThere are many wonderful native herbaceous plants and flowers growing in the wild that are all too often overlooked or forgotten. I think this is one of them.
The Need for Native Plants and WildflowersLoss of songbird habitat, fewer Monarch butterflies, mysterious bee deaths … just a few of the reports that seem to be appearing in the news more and more frequently these days. That’s the bad news. The good news is that it’s possible to do something to restore natural habitats for birds, bees, butterflies, and other wildlife in our own landscapes and gardens.
Crossvine, Bignonia capreolata, Bignoniaceae (Trumpet-Creeper Family)This beautiful evergreen vine is disease and insect free, plus the blooms are amazing.
Sunflower SecretsAmazing blooms, those sunflowers have, and behind every huge golden petaled, chocolate-centered face, there hides a world of secrets. Their seeds are filled with nutrition, their young faces follow the sun, and their petals, seeds, and hulls provide both yellow and a dark purple dye. But that's not all: Sunflowers are the globetrotters of the plant world.
Milkweed Vine, for Those of Us Who Have Trouble Growing Other MilkweedsI have great hope for this plant to provide the abundant Milkweed we need to raise many Monarchs and Queens. This plant is also a powerful magnet for all kinds of pollinators, including bees and many other butterflies.
Bidens: Native Wildflower or Weed?"A weed is but an unloved flower.” ~ Ella Wheeler Wilcox, author and poet, 1850 - 1919
Texas OrchidsWhen you think of orchids, you probably think of the tropical variety. They are often found in “big box” store garden centers or used in corsages. But there are 25,000 to 30,000 species of orchids in the world, and at least 10,000 of these grow in the tropics. Orchids have been found on every continent except Antarctica. There are even a few species that grow above the Arctic Circle.
The Top 50 WildflowersIt's hard to figure out which plants are wildflowers and which ones aren't, so lists like these are hard to come up with. Nevertheless, with help from our members we made a list of areas of the database that qualify, and here's the top 50 most popular species from among them!
What To Do with an Old Aquarium? Make a Terrarium!You can turn an aquarium into a beautiful living terrarium full of plants, and it can include fish, frogs, and other small amphibians.
"Perilla Magilla" vs. Perilla vs. Coleus"Perilla Magilla" is not the edible Perilla you might expect.
