There’s nothing more frustrating than working daily on your garden, only to find that plants start to wilt or change colors. The other day, I was talking to my 29-year-old daughter about her garden. She was telling me about her cabbage starting to yellow and seeing some holes in it. I immediately thought of slugs …
Gardening
If your backyard’s been so quiet you could hear a tomato ripen, it might be time to invite some tiny, winged drama. If you could choose any bird to visit, I hope that it’s a hummingbird. These little tweeters flap their wings up to 80 times per second, refuel every 10–15 minutes, and can fly …
Designing a small garden comes with unique challenges, but also big opportunities. Unlike sprawling landscapes, compact spaces require creativity, intention, and a bit more discipline. Every plant, path, and decorative touch matters. With the right approach, even the tiniest garden can feel lush, inviting, and full of personality. Here are some inspiring small garden ideas …
Backyard trees do more than drop leaves and block the sun from your laundry line. They’re also hangouts for mushrooms. Some of these fungi are quiet cleanup crews breaking down old wood. Others are slow-motion tree assassins. And a few just camp out, looking like something from a bad sci-fi movie. Most people don’t notice …
Beautiful but deadly. Some of nature’s most gorgeous creations can also be some of its most fatal. Don’t be fooled by a delicate blossom or burst of colorful berries – some of these plants can burn, blister, paralyze, or kill. It’s no accident that many of the world’s most toxic plants are also among the …
Dreaming of a beautiful yard without spending every weekend pulling weeds or deadheading flowers? You’re not alone. Whether you’re short on time, new to landscaping, or just want a space that feels peaceful and easy to care for, low-maintenance landscaping can give you that perfect balance of function and flair. From whimsical repurposed planters to …
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 …
Asparagus beetles are a pain in the … asparagus. There are the common asparagus beetle and the spotted asparagus beetle, and they both love eating asparagus. They hunker down anywhere they can to stay warm in the winter. When they awaken in the spring, they are hungry. If you grow asparagus, you are probably going …
Gardening is supposed to be fun, but when it involves bags of synthetic fertilizer, weekend-long weeding sessions, and constant watering, it just feels like a third job that pays little with a boss you hate (until they finally give you a bonus in the form of veggies). If that’s how you’ve been gardening, SageSmokeSurvival on …
It might seem surreal with all the “stories” highlighting them, but the cottage look didn’t start on Instagram. It started in rural villages where people turned necessity into charm, mixing functional gardens with overgrown paths, weathered wood, and flowers that didn’t care about symmetry. Fast forward a few decades, and the cottage feel still works, …