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Serena Manickam

Serena Manickam is a freelance editor and writer and sustainable market gardener in rural Virginia. She holds a BA in environmental science and runs Fairydiddle Farm, a small market garden in which she grows no-spray produce and herbs to sell at a local farmer’s market.

While we want our gardens to be visually attractive, the best landscapes appeal to all five senses. Plant your garden with wonderfully fragrant annual flowers that you can enjoy this growing season, filling your porch or yard with beautiful colors and pleasing scents. 1. Lemon beebalm (Monarda citriodora) The striking pink flowers of lemon beebalm …

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A tiny hummingbird dipping its beak into nectar-filled blossoms is certainly a special sight. Fill patio containers, hanging baskets, and gaps in flower beds with annual flowers that attract hummingbirds to encourage more of these lovely little friends to visit. The only thing more stunning than flowers in full bloom is the wildlife that visits …

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There’s nothing like being surrounded by calming, sweetly scented, purple lavender flowers. The bees’ hum and the butterflies’ dancing make it an amazing experience. Plan to take your family to a lavender farm this summer for an exquisite sensory experience. This directory of lavender farms by state will help you find lavender fields nearby. How …

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Succulents come in many unique varieties and can be so much fun to grow. Not so much fun? A mealybug infestation! These nasty little insects attack succulents indoors and out and can quickly spread from one plant to another if left unchecked. Learn how to get rid of mealybugs on succulents easily and effectively without …

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While grass lawns certainly have their place, such as play spaces for children and pets, they also require upkeep that drains our time and negatively affects the natural environment. How many hours and gallons of gas are spent mowing unused spaces? These low-traffic sections of the yard can be replaced with grass alternatives for lawns …

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Nothing catches the eye in a garden quite like a bright red flower. And while perennials certainly have their benefits, the quickest way to get these show-stopping crimson blooms into your garden is to plant annuals. To help you choose among the many plants available, here is a list of annual red flowers that will …

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Whether they grow in the sun or shade, perennial yellow flowers bring a golden ray of sunshine to the garden. And since they grow back year after year, you don’t have to worry about replanting them every spring to enjoy their beautiful blooms. 1. Tickseed (Coreopsis spp.) The disc-shaped flowers of tickseed typically have eight …

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Growing native plants is a great way to support pollinators like butterflies and bees, as well as songbirds and other wildlife. Even the smallest patio garden can provide much-needed habitat for native creatures. And it doesn’t have to be difficult! Many beautiful native wildflowers are incredibly easy to grow, such as those listed here. 1. …

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Not a common color among flowering plants, blue adds a unique beauty to the garden. Its calming hue invites wanderers to pause and take notice. Bring some cooler hues to your landscape this year with beautiful annual blue flowers. 1. Bachelor’s buttons (Centaurea cyanus) Also called cornflower, bachelor’s buttons can often be seen blooming along …

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Many types of flowers will bring butterflies to the garden, but these beautiful insects find some plants more attractive than others. Fill your planters and beds with beautiful, nectar-rich annual flowers that attract butterflies, and enjoy not only stunning blooms but friendly pollinators as well. 1. Tickseed sunflower (Bidens aristosa) In late summer and into …

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