Ornamental Gardening

Earlier this week, an email landed in my inbox that had me rolling my eyes in exasperation and exclaiming out loud This again? Haven’t I just done this?  No, it …

Did you know that this is the year of the hosta? I didn’t just make that up. The National Garden Bureau (NGB) declared hosta “perennial of the year” in an …

Ask any of my friends, and they’ll tell you how much I like to encourage plant ownership. But I don’t believe in buying just any houseplant though. There is such …

I remember first seeing a thick carpet of winter aconites while we were visiting a botanical garden a few years ago. Yes, we’re the kind of people who visit botanical …

How late is it too late to write a geranium fall care guide? Usually, if a care guide comes late in the season, it’s because I procrastinate a great deal. …

Monstera adansonii, often called Swiss Cheese plant or Monkey Mask plant, is a popular tropical houseplant. Its main feature is its unique and attractive foliage and its ability to climb …

Planting tulip bulbs is one of those garden jobs that I would rather skip. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love having tulips blooming all over my garden in spring. …

I often feel the need to defend growing annuals whenever the topic comes up in conversation. Most of the ornamentals in my garden are perennial, but there are always some …

Under the right conditions, bougainvillea can grow out of control. The frequent pruning they require throughout the growing season provides many opportunities to propagate bougainvillea from cuttings to grow additional …

There comes a time in the life of most homeowners when the question comes up of what to plant along a property line or fence. Maybe you’re ready to plan …

The swoon-worthy willow tree has long been a symbol of romance, but did you know that there are more than 350 different varieties of these gorgeous deciduous trees? A particular …

I sometimes worry when I notice that the articles in which I confess some of my gardening mistakes are more popular than the ones in which I explain how to …

Strolling through local garden centers as the leaves begin to change, there is rarely a fall basket without a chrysanthemum playing peekaboo in a color display of orange and yellows.  …

If I had to choose the gardening philosophy closest to my lazy gardener’s heart, it would have to be “live and let live.” Or rather “live and let die … …

Suppose you’re well on your way to creating a garden oasis with blooming flowers, pollinator-friendly groundcover, and hardy vegetables. In that case, you may have a sturdy Oak or swaying …

As summer is winding down, I’m once again thinking about container gardening. With a steady supply of flowers, berries, herbs and tomatoes throughout the summer months, I must admit I …

Dipladenias are full of surprises. To begin with they masquerade under different names. You might know them as Rocktrumpets or as Mandevillas. Although dipladenias are bushier than the vining mandevillas, …

I have a confession to make. I’ve been procrastinating on working on my very small front garden for the past three summers.  Here is what my shallow garden looks like.  …

In my mind, I’ve always associated hollyhocks with summer holidays at the beach. Even this year, my beach vacation was punctuated with oooh-ing! and aaaah-ing! over the majestic hollyhock torches …

I walk outside into my garden, in the dappled light that’s still lingering past 10 PM. It’s a few days past midsummer; my work day is long over, but the …

The path going past my rhododendrons is looking extra worn out, and I’m the reason why. You see, I was pacing back and forth for a month in anticipation of …

The only reaction I seem to be capable of whenever I see lupines in a garden is to stop and stare. Some people call that admiration, others might call it …

I like big boastful plants. A quick perusal of my article portfolio on this website will show that whenever I write a single-plant article, it tends to be centered around …

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a gardener in possession of a balcony must be in need of a container arrangement. Or at least this has been my truth …