A cut flower garden brings joy to the grower—that’s you!—and to anyone lucky enough to receive one of your homegrown bouquets. It’s a simple, soul-nourishing way to add beauty, fragrance, and color to your home, both inside and out. Whether you’re dreaming of mason jar arrangements on your kitchen table, thoughtful gifts for friends, or …
Serena Manickam
If you’re looking to bring classic beauty and year-after-year blooms to your garden, perennial white flowers are a must. Their soft, creamy hues provide the perfect contrast to bold-colored blooms and lush greenery, making them incredibly versatile for any garden style, from cottage charm to minimalist modern. White perennials also play a key role in creating …
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 …
Strawberries bring sweetness and fun to any backyard space. Their compact size, white blossoms, and bright fruit make them a favorite for gardeners of all ages. And they’re surprisingly easy to grow with the right companions by their side. When properly cared for, strawberry plants will provide you with plump, juicy berries for several years. …
Few pests annoy me more than voles. They suck down seedlings overnight, leaving no evidence that a plant had stood there unless you count the two-inch hole in the soil. Or they just devour the roots, so that I pull up a carrot top to find nothing attached, or walk through the garden to see …
It’s bad enough when they show up in your house, but the real damage occurs when stink bugs begin munching away at the plants in your garden. If you think you have a stink bug infestation, read on to learn how to confirm their presence and how to get rid of stink bugs in the …
Have you ever thought of the area above a septic tank and drain field as an opportunity for creativity and beauty? Probably not. Yet, with the right plants and design, you can transform what’s often considered an eyesore into a thriving, attractive part of your landscape. Thoughtful landscaping around your septic tank and drain field …
Cilantro, also called coriander (especially in reference to its seeds), is an annual herb commonly used in Mexican, Chinese, Indian, and Thai cuisine. Most people find the leaves of this polarizing herb to have a citrusy, parsley-like flavor, while others think it soapy and entirely unpalatable. Either way, cilantro makes an excellent companion plant, as …
You have beautifully landscaped your house, carefully designing and implementing the garden of your dreams. But the unsightly utility box continues to stick out, seemingly mocking you every time you step outside to enjoy your lovely garden. How can you possibly disguise the necessary eyesore? After all, it’s designed for, well, utility, not aesthetics. As …
A feathery, fast-growing annual, dill is a great herb to add to the vegetable garden. Despite its distinct flavor, dill can be used to season all kinds of dishes, from salmon to classic pickles (and my favorite, dilly beans!). It also provides significant advantages in the garden, deterring pests with its pungent aroma and attracting …