What is Elfin Thyme? This nugget of information does not completely answer the question of, “What is elfin thyme?” Elfin creeping thyme plant (Thymus serpyllum) is a low growing, one to two inches (2.5-5 cm.) tall herbaceous perennial sub shrub with a dense mounding habit. In cold climates, this little herb is deciduous, while in milder regions, the plant will retain its foliage year round. Flowers are borne upon the fragrant green to grayish blue foliage in summer and are extremely attractive to bees....

Cherry Morello Information English Morello cherries are the most popular cooking cherries in the UK, where they have been grown for over four centuries. English Morello cherry trees also grow well in the United States. These cherry trees grow to about 20 feet (6.5 m.) tall, but you can keep them pruned to a considerably shorter height if you prefer. They are highly ornamental, with showy blossoms that remain on the tree for an exceptionally long period of time....

Flame Violet Plant Info There are several cultivars of the flame violet plant. Many trail down the sides of hanging baskets. North and South American natives, foliage of Episcia flame violet houseplants is green to bronze, red, or even chocolate. Oval shaped leaves may have silvery edges, veins, or margins. Their habit is low-growing, and they flower in colors of red, pink, orange, yellow, lavender, or white throughout the year....

Fall Garden Maintenance Fall garden prep before winter enhances the appearance of the yard and ensures that tender plants get some TLC to protect them before cold weather hits. Planting New Plants You can also use this time to sink spring bulbs and plant some cool season plants to fill in gaps in the landscape and brighten up the end of season garden. Some autumn garden ideas to add color to the landscape are:...

Variegated foliage is a great way to introduce foliar color to the home. The pink polka dot plant is a classic example of marked foliage, and there are several hybrids from which to choose. It is a pink and green houseplant with a variety of patterns available. Other pink houseplants may have more rosy leaf color, or may sport just tinges of the hue on the tips, ribs, or margins....

About Spring Beds in the Fall It might seem odd to prepare spring beds in the fall, but it is actually the ideal time. While beds can be amended in the spring, prepping new beds in the fall allows the compost to really settle and begin to enliven the soil prior to spring planting. As you ready to prepare gardens in fall for spring, you may need to prep new beds and empty out existing beds or beds that are already filled with shrubs, bulbs, etc....

Kinds of Fertilizer for Orchids Orchids grown in bark– When an orchid is grown in bark, its soil contains a lower amount of nitrogen. When fertilizing we must make up for this nitrogen shortage. Use a water-soluble fertilizer with higher nitrogen levels such as 30-10-10 or 15-5-5. The higher levels of nitrogen will give the plant the level of nutrients it needs. Orchids grown normally– Orchids that are not grown in bark normally have a better balance of nutrients....

How to Make Felt Food Ornaments There are several methods for making vegetables with felt, so don’t worry if you’re not very crafty or lack sewing skills. You can create these simple felt vegetable ornaments using either felt sheets or crafting felt wool balls. Additional supplies may include thread, embroidery floss, hot glue, cotton, polyester, or wool batting. Making Vegetables with Felt Balls Crafting felt wool balls are available in an array of colors and range in size from approximately 3/8 to 1½ inches (1-4 cm....

When to Apply Citrus Fertilizer In general, you should be doing your citrus fertilizing about once every one to two months during active growth (spring and summer) and once every two to three months during the tree’s dormant periods (fall and winter). As the tree gets older, you can skip dormant season fertilizing and increase the amount of time between active growth fertilizing to once every two to three months. To find the best citrus fertilizing time frames for your tree, judge based on the tree’s physical appearance and growth....

What are Hybrid Seeds? Hybrid seeds are produced by companies through careful pollination of two specific varieties. Normally, this highly selective plant breeding is done to bring together two traits in each of the chosen varieties so that the resulting seed has both of the traits. So, for example, one tomato plant may be very drought tolerant and another tomato plant produces vigorously, the two plants might be cross pollinated to produce a drought tolerant tomato plant that produces a lot of tomatoes....

A large number of ferns will withstand both the winter cold and summer heat, which makes them particularly useful in the shady southern landscape. This hardiness also makes taking care of outdoor ferns simple. Types of Hardy Garden Ferns Growing a fern garden outdoors is easy. Ferns make excellent companions for woodland plantings like hosta, columbine, liriope, and caladiums. Learning how to take care of ferns depends mostly on the type you grow....

Historic Garden Design and Heirloom Vegetables Heirloom vegetables refer to specific varieties of open-pollinated edible plants, in which the seeds have been saved and passed from one generation to the next. Lineage of these vegetables can often be documented and traced throughout history. Without the availability of hybrid seeds, historic garden design depended greatly upon these heirlooms. Growing techniques, such as the three sisters garden, were also an important aspect of vegetable cultivation....

Does Climate Change Affect Gardens? Does climate change affect gardens? It does, and it’s important to learn how to spot climate change in the garden so that you can take action to help your plants adjust. It’s easy to assume that climate change is happening somewhere far away. But the truth is, it’s happening everywhere, even in your garden. How to Spot Climate Change in the Garden The weather changes brought on by climate change are causing disruptions in nature’s norms, even in your backyard....

How to Grow Gerbera Daisy Plants Indoors Gerbera houseplants require an unusual combination of bright light and moderate temperatures. A spot near a sunny window may be too hot and can scorch the leaves, but without adequate light, the plant won’t produce blooms. Bright sunlight in the morning often works well, but be sure the plant is protected from bright light during the afternoon. Although gerbera daisies tolerate cool temperatures, they won’t survive long in temperatures above 70 degrees F....

Is Himalayan Balsam Invasive? Himalayan balsam plants are native to Asia. In the early 19th century, they were brought to the British Isles to be planted in gardens, and before long they escaped into the wild, where they continue to cause a number of serious problems. The plant is attracted to damp areas like riverbanks, where it grows in clusters that can reach 10 feet (3 m.) in height. Since it is so tall, it will often shade out shorter native plants....

Abelia shrubs, Abelia grandiflora, have attractive foliage, which partially accounts for their longtime use in the landscape. The evergreen abelia has red foliage throughout the summer, becoming even deeper and more brilliant in autumn through winter. Flowers offer several bursts of bloom from spring to fall, with clusters of fragrant and frilly pink and white tubular flowers. In colder areas of the country, the glossy abelia plant is considered semi-evergreen, as it may lose half its leaves in cold winters....

GMO Seed Info Genetically modified organisms (GMO’s) are organisms that have had their DNA altered through human intervention. There is no doubt that “improving” on nature can benefit the food supply in a number of ways in the short term, but there is much debate about the long-term effects of genetically altering seeds. How will this impact the environment? Will super-bugs evolve to feed on genetically modified plants? What are the long-term effects on human health?...

Grass and Crows Before we discuss how to manage crow damage to lawns it is a good idea to know why the crows are attracted to the grass. The likely answer of course is to get at some delicious bugs. In the case of crows digging in grass, they are looking for the chafer beetle, an invasive pest imported from Europe. The chafer beetle’s life cycle is around a year during which time nine months are spent as grubs feeding on your lawn....

Why Do Peace Lily Flowers Turn Green? What you may consider a flower on the peace lily is actually a spathe. A spathe is a modified leaf, or bract, that surrounds the small flowers. The natural cycle of the spathe on a peace lily is to develop with a greenish color, turn bright white, and then turn green again as the flowers fade and ultimately turn brown. Most likely your green peace lily blooms are simply part of the process....

Grow a Minimalist Garden A minimalist garden isn’t for everyone. It should be an extension of your style from inside your home to the outside. It also can work to open a small space such as a minimalist balcony garden. The tips below will help you learn how to create a minimalist garden. How to Use Minimalism in Your Garden Design Once you’ve decided to create a minimalist garden, it’s important to plan your garden....