Many types of flowers will bring butterflies to the garden, but these beautiful insects find some plants more attractive than others. What a joy they are to watch when they are around! Fill your planters and beds with beautiful, nectar-rich annual flowers that attract butterflies, and enjoy not only stunning blooms but friendly pollinators as …
Serena Manickam
Wildflower gardens come in many shapes and sizes, from lush meadows to tidy flower beds. In addition to beautiful, bright colors, wildflowers offer many benefits, such as attracting pollinators and providing wildlife habitat. Native wildflowers also tend to require less care than many other garden plants, as they are well-adapted to your soil and climate. …
Justifying adding new greenery to your home is easy when you consider the air quality benefits. While all plants perform this task on some level, some are particularly efficient at it and do well in indoor spaces. Let’s look at the best indoor house plants for clean air to help you breathe easily in your …
Lavender simple syrup imparts a wonderful floral flavor to your favorite beverages. With just three ingredients and three steps, you can easily make your own to impress guests, pamper yourself, or give as gifts. Once you learn how to make lavender simple syrup, your fridge might never be without it again. What is lavender simple …
As spring lurks around the corner, and some lawns are already turning green due to warm weather, it’s time to start thinking about grass. And no one likes “ugly” grass popping up where they don’t want it. With broad, yellowish stems radiating out from a central point like crab legs, crabgrass can be an eyesore …
After going through all the effort of harvesting and drying lavender, you will want to make sure to store it properly so your hard work doesn’t go to waste. Improperly stored, dried lavender can lose its scent, flavor, and color and even become moldy. Correctly stored, it can last quite a long time. The following …
As fall approaches, mounds of mums begin appearing for sale everywhere from plant nurseries to grocery stores. Even those of us who prefer summer to colder weather may find ourselves tempted by the perfect green domes studded with bright flowers in hues evocative of warm spices. But then we get them home and wonder, Where …
Last year, I bought a few broccoli starts at a local greenhouse on a whim, excited to add another of my favorite vegetables to the garden. My excitement soon turned to disappointment, however, when something(s) began devouring the little plants. Each day, new holes appeared in the foliage, and entire leaves disappeared almost overnight. I …
What are those brightly colored, shield-shaped insects in the vegetable garden? Are they friends or foes? Looking something like a fancy stinkbug, harlequin bugs suck the nutrients out of plant leaves and can devastate an entire crop if not controlled. This invasive pest spread to the United States from Mexico soon after the Civil War and …
When money is tight, landscaping may not be your top priority. Plants, mulch, materials, and landscaping services can add up to astronomical costs, making a beautiful yard seem out of reach. But a plethora of thrifty landscaping ideas exists that will give your humble garden curb appeal. Thrifty Landscaping Ideas Saving money often means getting …