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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.

With more than 40,000 named roses in existence, learning about the different types of roses can seem a daunting task. This article breaks down rose classification into a simple, neatly organized guide based on the classification scheme of the American Rose Society, the international authority on rose classification. The American Rose Society divides all roses …

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While many people think of gardening as a warm-weather activity, gardeners know better. The growing season may begin in spring, but gardening truly starts in the winter. My first seed catalog this winter arrived in December, like an early Christmas gift, and the rest followed in January. What could be better than cozying up on …

Read More about Seed Swap Day: Celebrate Seeds and Cultivate Community this January

Lavender is well-loved for its light-purple buds, sage-green foliage, and sweet, calming fragrance. In fact, it’s both my favorite herb and my favorite flower. In addition to being a lovely landscaping plant, lavender has many uses, including in cooking, aromatherapy, crafting, herbal medicine, and flower arranging. It should come as little surprise, then, that the …

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Imagine your dream garden, with all of its beautiful plants and wandering pathways. Now close your eyes. What do you hear? What do you smell? Just looking at plants might melt the tension from your shoulders and lift the corners of your mouth, but smelling them can transport you to a whole different world. Few …

Read More about 7 Scented Garden Ideas That Engage The Senses

If you don’t have space around your home in which to garden, it might be time to look up. A flat roof, whether it tops your garage or your high-rise apartment building, can be transformed into a beautiful green space. Plant veggies, flowers, even small trees … the sky really is the limit! Plus, rooftop …

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Flowers, the darlings of most gardens, tend to outshine everything else. But the often-overlooked ornamental grasses have much to offer too. These low-maintenance plants add interesting texture and movement as well as color to a garden, come in a wide range of sizes, and often tolerate drought. Add a unique touch to your outdoor space …

Read More about 9 Ornamental Grasses Garden Ideas To Add Texture And Movement To Your Yard

Vertical gardening adds height and increases the amount of growing space you have to work with, which can be especially helpful in small spaces such as patio gardens or raised bed gardens. Whether you need more room to grow or simply want to add vertical interest to your garden, here are 11 vertical garden ideas …

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Whether or not you believe in fairies, you can enjoy the charming details of a fairy garden. Small plants paired with tiny doors and other miniature accessories inspire magic and wonder in gardeners and visitors of all ages. Tuck fairy gardens into hidden pockets of the yard or plant one in a dish to enjoy …

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For most people in my area, “succulent garden” is an alien concept, perhaps only conjuring images of shallow containers filled with small, fleshy plants. But succulent gardens range in size from a teacup to an entire yard and vary as widely in appearance as any other type of garden. Tight spacing of colorful succulents can …

Read More about 9 Spectacular Succulent Garden Ideas

As gardeners, we can find ways to tuck plants into almost any space and turn just about anything into a flowerpot. One way to save money and upcycle what might otherwise end up in the landfill is to repurpose old tires in the garden. You can, of course, simply throw a tire on the ground, …

Read More about 10 Recycled Tire Garden Ideas for Clever Upcycling