Life in The Garden
November 20, 2020
How do you take care of your Christmas poinsettia? See our tips on keeping poinsettias alive after Christmas—plus, we’ll address the most common question. Are poinsettias poisonous?
A week or two before Christmas, my Dad always gave my Mom a potted Poinsettia wrapped in shiny foil. And my Aunt Dodo had a nine-foot-tall one growing next to her front door. Bracts on it started turning pinkish around Halloween, then red, and remained ablaze until after Valentine’s Day.
For those unaware, the... more
October 16, 2020
Colorful pumpkins and gourds are signs of autumn to me—and the autumn home and table would not be complete without them. Here are some unusual pumpkin varieties to look out for—warts and all—and ways to use these natural decorations for displays and centerpieces.
Pumpkins: A True American Native
Pumpkins have deep American roots. Our Pilgrim forefathers subsisted on these edibles during their harsh winters, thanks to the Wampanoag, who helped them survive their first year at Plymouth Colony.... more
October 15, 2020
Have you tried air-drying flowers to brighten those gray days of fall and winter? Here’s how to dry flowers so that they look great—not just old!
How to Dry Flowers Properly
Drying your favorite garden flowers isn’t difficult. Here’s how to do it:
Pick flowers in the morning just before the blooms completely open. When you snip off the flowers from the plant, take 5 to 6 inches of stem, too.
Strip off all foliage from stems.
Secure a bundle of 8 to 10 stems with a rubber band or twist tie.
Hang... more
August 31, 2020
Though some folks say Labor Day is the “end of summer,” that’s certainly not true in temperate North American gardens! We’re harvesting, storing the bounty, saving seeds, dividing plants, fertilizing the lawn and—yes—planting for a “second summer.” Come join us in the garden—and also see 10 fall vegetables to plant now!
Heads up, North Americans! The season will be with us for a few weeks until the autumnal equinox on September 22, and then come the cooler temperatures. Gardening in the fall is... more
August 25, 2020
Every year in the fall, I suffer a bout of mum madness when garden centers and big boxes brim with cheery chrysanthemums. They produce lovely fall colors, but is fall really the best time to plant them? (The answer is no.) Here’s how to keep your mums alive through winter!
When to Really Plant Mums
In autumn, chrysanthemums and asters are everywhere, from six-inch pots to bushel baskets of orange, yellow, pink, and copper mounded behemoths. I want to buy everything and plant!
Then I slap myself... more
June 12, 2020
Roses once had a reputation for being finicky, prima donnas. However, rose breeders have bred the diva qualities out of this garden classic—without sacrificing the beauty and form that makes a rose a rose. Here are three of the easiest roses to grow for any beginner. Put away the sprays. You can plant and forget!
Knock-Out Roses
Shrub roses and those grown on their own roots are also the best choices, especially for cold climates. I’ve lost dozens of hybrid teas to -25ºF winters, no matter how... more
June 9, 2020
For thriving outdoor flower pots and especially vegetable containers, a continuous supply of nutrients and fertilizer is an absolute must. I learned the hard way as a novice gardener. Here’s how to fertilize your containers.
The Importance of Nutrients
My containers filled with petunias, salvia, lettuces, and tomatoes looked awful, especially when compared to those I planted in the ground later. I was starving the container plants, because I didn’t replace nutrients that were leached out of the... more
January 26, 2020
Soon I’ll be up to my elbows in dirt outdoors, cleaning up beds, spreading mulch and planting the first cool-weather veggies. In the meantime, I’m creating and caring for gardens in miniature, the ones that have kept me a happy person all winter indoors.
A planter, hanging air plants, terrarium, and assorted miniature gardens (including a fairy garden) have brightened windowsills and my heart through days of limited sunlight and the occasional snow. Kids love them, too.
I started with a few... more
January 9, 2020
Tulip bulbs are typically planted in the fall, but what happens when you forget to plant them or you miss a few? Here’s how to plant tulip bulbs in winter!
What Do You Do With Forgotten Tulips?
One January, I came across a bag of tulip bulbs that had gotten misplaced in my gardening shed. Evidently, the dozen tulips hid when I planted over 150 other bulbs in October. I was looking forward to seeing this variety’s colors lining my garden path. At least, that was the plan.
After doing a little... more
September 4, 2019
After Labor Day, I can feel and see the slowing of photosynthesis as plants wind down their season. September’s silent song drives me to do things fast, before the frosts of fall. Here are some September gardening tips.
Order Spring-Flowering Bulbs
Buy or order bulbs now for the best selection and plant later in the fall. You can plant daffodils, hyacinths, lilies and tulips until the ground freezes solid. See list of spring-blooming bulbs to plant in fall.
If you can dig a 6-inch-deep hole,... more
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A lifelong gardener shares the endless lessons she’s learned from her garden over the years, in hopes of making your own gardening just that much easier! Read along for advice, photos, and more.
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