One of the best ways to support bees and other pollinators is to plant bright flowers that provide good sources of pollen and nectar. While native perennials are always excellent choices, annual flowers that attract bees often bloom throughout the growing season, offering a steady source of food for the bees and beauty for the …
Serena Manickam
With its vibrant colors and remarkable height, pokeweed (Phytolacca americana) is hard to miss, and you might even think it beautiful. This striking native of eastern North America also serves as an important food source for songbirds and other wildlife. However, pokeweed is toxic to both people and pets, and in some western states, it …
Radishes are a wonderful, fast-growing crop to grow in the vegetable garden. Because they take as little as three weeks to mature, I like to tuck radishes in just about anywhere there’s a bit of extra space. By the time the other plants start getting big, the radishes can be harvested, freeing up more room …
I recently moved into a new house with a wonderful, fully fenced-in backyard. The downside? Keeping that fence line clean! Grass and other weeds grow up from under the fence and creep into my yard from the neighboring properties. The mower can only get so close, and it’s difficult to string trim along the fence …
A drought-tolerant garden doesn’t have to sacrifice beauty; many stunning flowers will thrive with little to no supplemental water. Native wildflowers and plants from the Mediterranean region often do well in dry conditions. Designing a drought‑tolerant garden starts with understanding how plants adapt to dry conditions. Many species develop deep root systems, waxy leaves, or …
Blueberry bushes not only provide delicious berries but are also an attractive shrub to include in an edible landscape. When determining which plants to grow alongside blueberries, you will want to consider the growing requirements and challenges of blueberry bushes. Blueberries prefer organically rich, acidic soil with good drainage, and while they will tolerate partial …
Add striking color to your garden with stunning annual bicolor flowers. While many flowering plants produce single-color blooms, others feature a contrasting eye, striped petals, petals that fade from one hue to another, or petals or bracts of differing colors. Bi‑color blooms also add instant dimension to beds and containers, creating the illusion of a …
Beets are a wonderful crop to grow for many reasons. These vegetables are packed with nutrients, and you can harvest some of the leafy greens while you wait for the vibrant, fleshy roots to fully mature. To ensure healthy plants both above and below the soil, grow one or two companion plants for beets nearby. …
Planting a garden in a shady yard can be a frustrating experience. As we walk through a nursery or garden center looking for shade-loving plants, many of the showy flowers we gravitate toward require a sunny location. But there are plenty of beautiful flowers for shade, too! Shady yards often get a bad reputation, but …
An aromatic perennial herb in the mint family, culinary sage (Salvia officinalis) makes an excellent companion plant in both the herb and vegetable garden. It deters several common garden pests, and its lovely flowers attract pollinators and other beneficial insects. Sage gets along better with some plants than others, though, so keep reading to learn …