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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.

You don’t have to be royalty to have a beautiful garden. With attractively arranged plants appropriate for your location, you can stroll through a spectacular landscape right outside your door. To help you start off on the right foot, here is a list of kingly flowers that start with K. Add some geometric boxwood borders, …

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The innumerable flowers of this beautiful world fill a spectrum of colors, sizes, shapes, bloom times, and habitats. With careful design, a single garden could contain plants that, collectively, provide nonstop blooms from spring through fall, and perhaps even through winter, in every possible hue. Imagine what a sight that would be, from the tiny …

Read More about Flowers From A To Z – A Sampling of Remarkable Diversity

Flowers undoubtedly add beauty to a garden, but they are also fascinating. A person could get lost for many long minutes wondering over the sepals, petals, stamens, and pistil of a single blossom, never mind its neighboring buds or foliage. What textures, colors, or scents do you notice when you pause to consider the individual …

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The prospect of laying down plastic ground cover and then not having to weed all summer sounds too good to be true. So is it? As with many things, it depends. This article will cover when and how to use weed barrier fabric for optimum results, as well as the best weed barrier fabric to …

Read More about Best Weed Barrier Fabric – Tips for Selection and Use

Although not common among household vegetable gardens, sweet potatoes are relatively easy to grow, with drought tolerance and few problems. These native American vegetables also last for months when properly stored and provide high amounts of vitamin A, C, and E, as well as calcium, potassium, and antioxidants. Plus, the entire plant is edible: the …

Read More about How to Grow Sweet Potatoes – Tips for a Sweet Harvest

Based out of Indianapolis, Radius Garden designs lightweight yet durable garden tools that are comfortable and easy to use. On their website, they ask, “Why not make better garden tools that won’t hurt you?” In fact, Radius Garden makes a line of ergonomic hand tools perfect for gardeners with arthritis. Some of the most popular …

Read More about Ergonomic Radius Garden Tools For Comfort In The Garden

The large, showy globes of the hydrangea make it a popular shrub across the U.S. In addition to lush foliage and stunning flowers, this plant is also remarkably easy to care for. Want startling blue, hot pink, or deep purple blooms on your bush? Simply change the acidity of the soil! This article will not …

Read More about How To Care For Hydrangeas – The Ultimate Guide To Stunning Hydrangea Flowers

When I was in college, a friend mentioned a Christmas cactus, and I laughed, thinking it was a joke. I’d never heard of such a thing! Naturally, I received one for Christmas that year, and I was immediately entranced by its unique segmented branches and bright, festive flowers. Since then, I’ve learned that Christmas cactus …

Read More about Proper Christmas Cactus Care for Festive Holiday Flowers