The Magic in Yarrow
By Sharon on July 22, 2014
There was magic, she said, in the plants we gathered from the mountain. Magic plants had three reasons for living: They gave us food, they gave us medicine, and they gave us beauty. She said yarrow was truly magic because it was also a plant that could live with very little water. To me, the very best part about yarrow was that it was so old it had a story to tell. That made it even more magical. I loved Aunt Bett's stories.
The Wonderful Yarrow
By dave on November 17, 2014
Yarrow, Achillea millefolium, has been known and loved for thousands of years, and in fact, its name came from the Greek hero, Achilles.
The Top 50 Wildflowers
By dave on October 18, 2014
It'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!
Garden Tours: Chelle
By Sharon on April 8, 2012
This is a Garden Tour you'll long remember. Chelle has done marvelous things with her 10 acres in Indiana and she will show us both the before and after photos. We think you are going to love this tour! (Be sure to click on the photos to enlarge so you'll get the full picture!)
Sempervivum Companion Plants
By Emma on March 13, 2013
When ATP forum moderator Lynn Smith (valleylynn) asked me to write this article, she commented in her typically enthusiastic way that a visit to our nursery had transformed her thinking about gardening with Sempervivums. At Wild Ginger Farm, we specialize in alpine and rock garden plants and feature Sempervivums in our naturalistic display gardens. Written by Emma Elliot of Wild Ginger Farms.
Wildflowers Through the Ages
By Sharon on August 17, 2013
"None can have a healthy love for flowers unless he loves the wild ones." ~ Forbes Watson, art critic and writer, 1879 - 1960
Celebrating Winter Interest!
By dave on February 14, 2015
Pine cones, seed heads, winter bloomers, colorful red berries, and much more! Let's kick off Winter Interest Week with a look at the most popular plants in our database that give some kind of interest to our gardens in the winter. We also introduce a new gallery option in our database for winter interest, with bonus acorns this week!
Honey Bees in the Garden: June
By Mindy03 on June 1, 2011
June brings the end of school, Father's Day and summer. Summer brings hot weather and plants may need extra water. Honey bees will also need extra water to keep the hive cool.
Companion Planting: A Reliable Option or Nonsense?
By wildflowers on August 29, 2010
So what about Companion Planting? Is it merely folk lore and old wives' tales without any scientific evidence to back it up? Or can you create a beautiful garden that flourishes in rhythm with the natural balance that mother earth has to offer (without the use of pesticides or other harmful chemicals) by using companion planting practices? Maybe some traditions and folklore were created for a reason.
Honey Bees in the Garden: May
By Mindy03 on May 5, 2011
May is a month that showcases flowers for special days. Flowers for May Day, flowers for Mother's Day, flowers for Memorial Day and flowers for the honey bees.
Team Herbs, or Team No Herbs?
By Trish on January 29, 2012
Do you grow herbs in your garden? Let's discuss Team Herbs this week!
Garden Tours: ge1836, Jo Ann Gentle
By Sharon on October 1, 2011
Welcome to a special feature at All Things Plants: Garden Tours. Each week we'll take you on a tour of the lovely gardens of one of our members. Join us now as we travel to New York to see the gardens created by Jo Ann Gentle. I think you are going to love what you see! (Be sure to click each image for an enlarged view.)
A Drought-Tolerant Garden
By SongofJoy on February 10, 2012
The year 2011 was a violent weather year in the US, with at least 12 weather-related disasters exceeding a billion dollars in damage. Some say it was Earth's most extreme weather year since 1816. Much of the country suffered from record heat and drought . . . and so did the yards and gardens.
June Plants for Honey Bees
By Mindy03 on June 2, 2012
Summer is coming, with longer days and hotter temperatures. June is still a great month for honey bees, but they may not produce as much honey as the days get hotter.
The Bitter Herbs
By SongofJoy on February 18, 2014
Bitter herbs (also known as bitters) have been used for thousands of years. They are frequently used in cooking, in herbal and alternative medicine, and in the religious ceremonies of numerous cultures around the world. These herbs can be powerful enough to cause physiological reactions within the body. So, what are the bitter herbs?
ATP Podcast #64: Fruit Tree Guilds
By dave on July 9, 2014
In this week's podcast, we will talk about planning orchards as complete gardens, rather than as single trees surrounded by grass. What are the various needs that fruit trees have, and are there plants that can actually fulfill those needs? Can an orchard be beautiful, and provide year-round benefits? You'll find out by listening to today's episode.
Growing Tomatoes
By dave on January 1, 2015
It's January, and that means that it's time to break out the seed catalogs, pore over the selections, and place your order for your spring tomato seeds.
The Wonderful Comfrey
By dave on March 24, 2015
Comfrey is incredible. It's a soil builder, a fertilizer, a compost enhancer, has medicinal properties, is a good feed source for animals, and much more. Let's talk about this chief of plants.
Introducing Plant Guilds
By dave on April 6, 2011
The concept of plants guilds is an extension of the companion plants thought process. Different plants do different things and bring different benefits.
Fall Flower Garden Clean-Up
By goldfinch4 on November 23, 2016
If you're like me and live in a cool climate, your gardening season will soon be coming to an end for another year. You've either got loads of work ahead of you cleaning out your flower gardens or you are ready to sit back and relax and leave the clean-up until spring.