Let’s talk about dahlias Dahlias are becoming increasingly popular in landscapes and make excellent additions to border plantings, flowerpots, and cut-flower gardens. They flower continuously from summer through the first frost and will bloom prolifically if spent flowers are removed regularly. They do best in full sun and prefer well-drained sandy soils but will tolerate heavier […]
Author: National Garden Bureau
Verbena can rock any spot in the garden during the hottest days of summer!
Overview and history Verbena are known for withstanding the pressure of hot, dry conditions. Luckily for all of us, there are many new hybrids that have been bred just for this job! Verbena is a member of the Verbenaceae family, which is comprised of 800 species in 32 genera, many of them native to the Americas […]
Fall in love with container gardening: Five great reasons
Container gardening, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways. Here are five great reasons to give container gardening a try: Beginning gardeners Plant Anywhere Architectural Interest Simplify maintenance Accessibility Additional points 1. Container gardening provides a baby step for the beginning gardener. The idea of gardening appeals to many people but sometimes the reality […]
Fabulous flowers for your cutting garden
What should you grow in your cutting garden? If you adore bold colors and textures, choose cheerful zinnias and sunflowers in vibrant colors. If you prefer a softer palette and delicate blooms, consider sweet peas or cosmos. The choice is yours. You should grow what you love! To ensure you enjoy a long season of bouquets, […]
Gardeners flock to phlox
This wildflower perennial works well in woodland, prairie and meadow landscape Phlox are an easy-to-find wildflower stretching from Florida and Quebec to Alaska. One of the classic American perennials, this was one of the earliest North American natives to enter cultivation. With vibrant flower colors and blooms lasting many weeks, it is easy to understand what […]
Savor a scent-sational garden with fragrant plants
What’s your favorite garden memory? Is it burying your nose in sweet lavender lilacs, sneaking a sip of nectar from fragrant honeysuckle as a child, snipping spicy roses for a bouquet, or harvesting piney rosemary for recipes? Whatever your memories evoke, they’re sure to be tied to scent. After all, smell, emotion, and memories are closely […]
Four flower sources for your Victorian garden
Whenever we start a garden, we wonder what we should put in it. Do I want annuals, perennials, shrubs, or maybe biennials? Perhaps some ornamental grasses would work as well. Victorian gardeners in the late nineteenth century faced this same dilemma, but James Vick (1818-1882) had the answers. Owner of a seed company in Rochester, NY […]
Pollinator predicament: What happens when the birds and bees can’t do it?
When it comes to birds, bees, plants, and pollination, timing truly is everything. And, in the Rocky Mountains, where short summers dictate extreme synchronicity, the timing is off. Less snow and earlier springs may be a blessing for those of us who tire of winter around the first of February but for the tiny plants and animals […]
Wildflower Seed Paper: 9 Steps to Make Your Own
This handmade, Earth-inspired paper is made with recycled paper and embedded with wildflower seeds. A meaningful way to celebrate our planet! Makes a beautiful gift for family and friends. Material Needed: Scrap paper (suggested types listed below) Wooden frame (build your own or use an old picture frame) Window screening (you will need a number of pieces that are […]
2022 is the year of the Gladiolus: A classic summer-bloomer
Discover why these classic summer-blooming bulbs are making a comeback Overview and History Gladiolus are as American as apple pie. Generations of gardeners, from Maine to California, have tucked these summer-blooming bulbs into their gardens in spring and been delighted by the gorgeous flower spikes that appear just a few months later. Buckets of long-stemmed glads […]