Annual flowers offer a great way to fill in gaps in the garden and add beautiful, long-lasting color quickly. Whether you’re planting in containers or flower beds, choose from the following list of lovely annual purple flowers to include some cool hues in your landscape. 1. Lisianthus (Eustoma grandiflorum) Something like an annual rose, lisianthus …
Serena Manickam
Steep slopes present a challenge in the garden, both in the initial planning stages and in relation to ongoing maintenance. Ground covers offer an excellent solution. These plants grow densely and often quickly, covering the ground to shade out weeds and stabilize banks, preventing erosion. Though the term “ground cover” might not inspire much creativity, …
What if, instead of being the source of a groan-inducing, time-consuming chore (mowing), your lawn became a food source? Imagine ditching the mower for fresh fruits, veggies, nuts, and even eggs. There are many reasons to grow food not lawns, and the transition from grass to greens can be relatively simple. No matter how big …
Often chosen for the texture and autumn interest they add to the garden, ornamental grasses have many virtues. Some are tall, towering over most other garden plants, and serve as a visual anchor or a privacy screen. Others form low mounds, tucked in among bright flowers to add softness to the landscape. As you decide …
This biennial cut-and-come-again herb deters insect pests with its scent and attracts beneficial insects with its flowers. Good companion plants for parsley share similar growing requirements and either benefit from or offer benefits to parsley. Parsley adds a bright flavor to a wide range of dishes and makes an excellent companion plant in the garden. …
Invasive plants pose a significant threat to New Mexico’s human economy and natural environment. These non-native weeds spread rapidly and outcompete native plants, changing local ecosystems and reducing habitat for native wildlife. While the biggest threat is to rangelands and wild spaces, some invasive plants can also be found in home landscapes, sometimes as weeds …
It is beyond frustrating to look outside and see your flowers gone — completely mowed down by deer. Fill in those gaps with deer resistant annual flowers. These beautiful, long-blooming plants are rarely damaged by deer, making them perfect for a garden that’s beginning to feel more like a deer buffet. 1. Annual vinca (Catharanthus …
Weeds are something almost every gardener loves to hate. We spend hours digging them out of the ground, yet the stubborn little plants continue to pop up where we don’t want them. If you’re anything like me, you always feel behind on weeding. So why on earth would anyone want to celebrate Weed Appreciation Day? …
Many invasive plants started out innocently, as ornamental landscape plants in gardens or as agricultural or other functional plants. Only after these nonnative species were introduced did we realize their aggressive nature in this new environment, as they rapidly spread and outcompeted native plants. In addition to damaging native ecosystems, invasive plants in New Hampshire also …
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 …