Iris of the Year 2026 'Royston Rubies'The American Iris Society (AIS) is pleased to announce the 2026 "Iris of the Year", tall bearded iris 'Royston Rubies'. This outstanding iris is the result of hybridizing work conducted by plant breeder Adam Cordes of Hillman, Michigan. Adam introduced 'Royston Rubies to the public through Mid-American Garden of Salem, Oregon in 2017. At the time of its introduction, Adam had been hybridizing irises for 13 years and 'Royston Rubies' was his first introduction.
Barrel cacti of the US and MexicoThese big balls of succulence, surrounded and defended by fierce spines, are fascinating living sculptures and a vivid example of adaptations for dry growing. In this photographic review of selected North American barrel cacti, I will describe some common and colorful plants, and explain the latest changes in names.
Aeoniums in CultivationThe Aeonium genus comprises of roughly thirty-five species, and countless horticultural and natural hybrids. Most species are endemic to the Canary and Cape Verde Islands, with a few from Morocco, Yemen, and East Africa. This is a guide to some of the most common Aeoniums in cultivation.
Grow Parthenocarpic Cucumbers for a Disease-Free HarvestParthenocarpic is a technical term for "no pollinator needed." Parthenocarpic cucumbers can be grown in a greenhouse or even indoors. To protect them from pests and diseases, they also can be grown outside under a tulle row cover.
One way to recycle an old greenhouseWhat do you do with an old greenhouse when the canvas has begun to rot away and it's no longer a functioning greenhouse? (When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.) So I made a 'new' trellis from the old frame.
Tulle: perfect summer crop cover!Viruses in your vine crops? Beetles in your broccoli? Birds in the blueberries? Tulle could be the row cover you've been looking for.
Reasons a Daylily May Not Look Like Its Picture (What are you taking the picture with?)We've all seen the posts: 'Why doesn't my daylily look like... (other pictures of the same daylily)...?' Well, it really could be your camera ... or, on your cell phone: it could be your camera app!
'New Plant' Survival Over Winter (When you don't have a bed ready to plant into)Anyone else ever buy a new plant 'too late' in the season ... but you don't have a garden bed ready to put it in, or you are not sure (yet) where its new home should be? That would be me...
Fun Garden Art to Make With Children!Need some easy garden art projects to do with your children or grandkids? These two easy projects will delight them! They can use their imagination and come up with some great face pot and miniature gardens in a glass ideas!
Looking in the windows: A few HaworthiasFew small succulents attract the eye and reward close inspection better than the windowed Haworthias.
Some Commonly Confused Succulents, and How To Properly Identify ThemI write this as a guide to identifying succulents that are often confused with each other. This is intended to be a reference when commenting on misidentified succulents in the plant photos database. Misidentification among succulents is prevalent due to the sheer number of similar looking species and hybrids. It is common even among well-known nurseries, which may sell misidentified plants.
Yes! You Can Start Seeds in a Zone 6a Coldframe in the Middle of WinterLate Dec - Early Jan seed sowing. How to make a winter cold frame garden succeed.
Fall is a great time to start a new garden area for spring - without having to dig up the grassAll you need are a few basic items, most of which you may be able to gather for free, like some discarded cardboard boxes, some mulch and/or other organic matter, and an hour or two of your time. Adding the border of your choice is optional.
Watermark Woods: Growing NativeDiscover THE native plant destination for mid-Atlantic gardeners.
Staying Hydrated While Working in the GardensStrenuous activity in extreme heat and humidity can definitely lead to serious health problems. "Remember to drink plenty of water," Mom used to say, each early morning, before my siblings and I left for high school band camp, but really, how much is enough water to stay out of the ER? 🤷
Bubbles!My idea for recycling a left over part of a broken sola light!
Free recycled plant-potsRefuse - can't always, nearly everything comes from a factory in plastic containers! Recycle - sure, but you don't know whether it actually is recycled, or at what cost. Reuse - Bingo!
My Passion in the Garden, Take a PeekYou love your garden in bloom right now, don't you? Me too. It's heartwarming to know that so many people have an inborn love of botanical nature! The NGA hosts some positively amazing photographs! With hundreds of thousands of pictures to peruse, our joy in nature is clearly evident.
Some annuals are great houseplants, some can be saved over winterA lot of plants sold in the "annuals" section at stores are perennials that can't survive year-round outside where they are sold, so they are referred to as annuals to avoid any unrealistic expectations. Perennial plants have a range of hardiness zones, which can be easily checked if you're curious about a particular plant.
Easy Propagation Station IdeaMake a simple and cheap propagation station for all of your water-based cuttings.
The Ponytail Palm (Beaucarnea recurvata)The ponytail palm is one of the most common succulent trees in cultivation. Its interesting form and ease of care make it an excellent house plant or patio plant, given good drainage and lots of light.
Light and Darkness in Our EnvironmentCan we discuss LIGHT? -Not natural sunlight or how much you need or don't need for plants to grow properly, but the light that we as humans beings generate, especially in the last 50 years or so. Could you take a moment to think over your relationship with light in your gardens and on your property?
Filling Holes/Cavities in TreesIs it possible to save or prolong the life of a tree with holes or cavities in it? YES, it is!
Cheat Sempervivum GravelEspecially during quarantine, people (at least where I am, in CA) haven't really been able to get to garden centers/nurseries. This was a big deal for me when I got my first sempervivums, because they need a certain type of gravel on top of the soil in order for the leaves not to rot. How did I manage without being able to get the special gravel?
Plumbing Tools for GardeningLet's think outside of the box. I love using things for other than their original purpose. A pipe cutter can be used to cut branches just as easily as it cuts pipes into pieces.
