10 Reasons to Love Flower Gardens There are hundreds of reasons to plant a flower garden next season, but here are my top ten. The Birds and the Bees…and the Butterflies too! Every year, regardless of which flowers I plant or how much I neglect them, that fabulous trio of winged creatures always finds them. Be sure to provide bird feeders, baths, and houses to maximize your bird watching enjoyment!...

50’s Inspired Garden Design In the 1950’s garden, an assortment of mass-produced decorations scattered about was not uncommon– plastic wildlife, garden gnomes, the now very politically incorrect black jockey statues, lantern holders, etc. Here you would also find wide open, well-manicured lawns and an abundance of round or box-pruned evergreen foundation plants. Where one lived, however, was a major factor in its overall design. Simply put, if you lived in warmer climes, the gardens took on a more tropical flair while in other areas plants focused more towards subtropical to temperate schemes....

Growing Amsonia from seed isn’t difficult, but it requires patience because germination is unpredictable and can be frustratingly slow. If you’re willing to give it a try, read on to learn about Amsonia seed propagation. When to Sow Amsonia Seeds Start early because growing Amsonia blue star from seed to transplant size can require 16 to 20 weeks and sometimes much longer if germination is slow. Many gardeners prefer to start Amsonia seed propagation in late winter for summer planting....

Ants in Plant Containers Infestations of honeydew-producing insects, such as aphids, soft scales, mealybugs, and whiteflies may explain why you’re finding ants in potting soil. Honeydew is a sweet, sticky substance that the insects secrete as they feed, and ants think it’s a banquet. In fact, they will go to great lengths to protect honeydew-producing insects from predators to keep a supply of this tasty food handy. Get rid of the insects that produce honeydew before killing ants in containers to keep the ants from returning....

Apricot Bacterial Canker Disease Apricots with bacterial canker are hardly rare, and the apricot bacterial canker disease is widespread in most places. This is a disease that often enters apricot trees and other stone fruit trees through wounds, often gardener-inflicted pruning wounds. You’ll know that your tree has apricot bacterial canker disease if you see necrosis girdling a branch or trunk. Keep your eye out for branch dieback and cankers in spring....

Why Are My Tomato’s Seeds Sprouting? It can be quite alarming when you cut into a tomato and see little squiggly green or white things amongst the seeds. At first glance, many people assume these are worms. However, usually upon closer inspection, these stringy, squiggly formations will actually turn out to be seeds sprouting inside a tomato fruit. This premature germination of seeds is known as vivipary, which means “live birth” in Latin....

Growing Conditions for Arroyo Lupine Growing Arroyo lupine plants tolerate light shade, but they bloom best in full sunlight. This popular wildflower adapts to nearly any soil type, including loam, gravel, sand, or clay. However, they often struggle and may not survive in highly alkaline conditions. Well-drained soil is essential, as arroyo doesn’t tolerate soggy, waterlogged soil. Be sure not to plant arroyo lupine where the soil remains wet during the winter....

What are Winged Beans? Growing winged beans are similar in growth habit as well as appearance to the garden variety pole bean. The plant has a vining habit with 3 to 6 inch (8-15 cm.) long leaves and producing 6 to 9 inch (15-23 cm.) pods. Four angled “wings” run lengthwise to the pods, hence the name. Seeds of the Asian winged bean look much like soybeans and are round and green....

Companion Planting with Asparagus Companions for asparagus or any other vegetable must be compatible with each other. Asparagus is a perennial that likes a sunny area of the garden. They take two to three years to reach a full yield and, thereafter, produce spears for the next 10 to 15 years! This means that companions for asparagus must like sun exposure and be able to work around the semi-permanent asparagus. Companions for asparagus may be those that add nutrients to the soil, deter pests and disease, harbor beneficial insects, or aid in water retention or weed retardation....

Praying Mantis Information Praying mantids are carnivorous insects consisting of numerous species – with the European mantis, Carolina mantis, and Chinese mantis being the most prevalent, especially here in the United States. Most species resemble ants when young and can take all summer before reaching maturity, with only one generation each season. These young nymphs will eventually grow into the adult mantids from which we are familiar, ranging in size from about 2/5 to 12 inches (1-30....

Gardening for Birds and Attracting Woodpeckers A bird-friendly garden can help promote a healthy, local ecosystem. Birds are essential elements of the environment and having them in your garden will keep it healthy and whole. You may also want to attract birds simply because you enjoy hearing and watching them. Among the most interesting and colorful you may find in the garden are woodpeckers. Enticing them into the yard isn’t that difficult either....

About Avalanche Pea Plants Crisp and sweet, snow peas make a delightful addition to salads and stir-fries. If you’re a fan, consider planting your own crop of Avalanche snow peas. When you plant the pea ‘Avalanche’ in your garden, these plants shoot up much quicker than you might anticipate. Avalanche peas go from seed to harvest in some two months. When the crop comes in, it might justly be called an avalanche....

What is Bare Root Rhubarb? Bare root plants are dormant perennial plants that have been dug up, the dirt brushed off, and then wrapped in damp sphagnum moss or nestled in sawdust to keep them moist. The advantage to bare root plants is that they are usually less expensive than potted perennials and are often easier to deal with than container grown plants. Bare root rhubarb plants look like woody, dried roots and may sometimes arrive dusted with a powder to keep the root from molding....

Beaufortia Plant Info On a continent populated by such wonders as koalas and kangaroos, is it any surprise that a remarkable plant such as Beaufortia would be present? There are 19 species recognized by the Australian government but many more cultivars created for home gardeners. The wild species are cultivated in limited numbers because they can be quite finicky. The cultivars are more adaptable and produce excellent plants with superior blooming results....

Beautyberry Shrub Info Beautyberries live up to their common name, which comes from the botanical name Callicarpa, meaning beautiful fruit. Also called the American mulberry, beautyberries are Native American shrubs that grow wild in woodland areas in Southeastern states. Other types of beautyberries include the Asian species: Japanese beautyberry (C. japonica), Chinese purple beautyberry (C. dichotoma), and another Chinese species, C. bodinieri, which is cold hardy to USDA zone 5. Beautyberry shrubs reseed themselves readily, and the Asian species are considered invasive in some areas....

Bellwort Wildflowers There are five species in this genus, Uvularia. This family of plants is named after the flower’s resemblance to the uvula as well as the curative powers the herb possesses for throat ailments. Merry bells is another name for this cheery little woodland herb. The native plants are part of a temperate understory forest ecosystem. Bellwort plants get up to 24 inches (61 cm.) tall and spread 18 inches (46 cm....

Why Use Drought Tolerant Desert Plants? Every garden has its trials whether it is poor drainage, shady plots, or heavy soils. The test for gardeners is to choose plants that will do well in the particular conditions of the landscape and still require minimal maintenance. The water-storing features of desert plants make them perfect for the arid garden. Using less water in dry regions saves money as well as that limited resource....

Turkey Herbs Most people use a blend of herbs that are typical for roasting a turkey. This doesn’t mean you can’t diverge from the norm. At the end of the day, herbs you grow and use for roasting your turkey should please your palate and those of your guests of course. Some people go wild and use lots of global spices to create a Moroccan spiced turkey or Cajun barbequed turkey, but for the purposes of this article we are focusing on turkey herbs, not spices....

About Variegated Pothos Pothos is popular in the home for several reasons. Pothos plants grow quickly and produce pretty vines in a range of colors, sizes, and patterns. They are among the easiest houseplants to grow. If you’re someone who tends to forget to water your plants, this is the plant for you. While pothos is a vine, it doesn’t need a structure to climb. You can train it to something and let it grow up to 30 feet (9 m....

What Type of Vine for a Brick Wall? The classic, elegant effect of ivy on the walls of a stately home is one that many of us wish to mimic. Covering brick walls with vines is also an excellent way to cover up any damage or repaired masonry that doesn’t match. Vigorously growing vines are a natural cover up and add Old World appeal to even a modest rancher. Make a list of the attributes you are looking for in a wall covering before you purchase and install....