In case you’re worried this dear, sweet human that I call my husband is something of a tyrant, I don’t want you to get the wrong impression. I regret to inform you of this, but I can’t keep it to myself any longer: My partner thinks cantaloupe isn’t any good. There. I said it. This dirty little secret is one that I’ve carried with me and fought against for years, often depriving myself of the (imagined) juicy delights of a sweet and perfectly ripened orange-fleshed melon – for fear of bringing one into the house that might be less than perfect....

It might have you scratching your head, but it’s not strange (at least not to the aloe), and it’s a great indication that you’ve been taking good care of your plant. Have you noticed a strange bud forming in the center of your aloe plant? It’s not a new leaf – you’ve seen those develop and know what the sprouts look like. It’s also not an offshoot or pup, since they form below the leaves....

For a pteridophyte neophyte, this loss of vitality and vibrancy can be heartbreaking. But for seasoned growers, this is simply part of the process, as routine as shoveling snow after a blizzard. For fern fans, the Boston fern is probably the pteridophyte that got you hooked. It’s gorgeous, versatile, and fairly easy to care for. Plus, you’d have a hard time finding a plant shop or garden center that doesn’t have N....

But before I get carried away with all the fa-la-la-la-la fodder, I must caution my fellow Anglophiles. Ilex aquifolium If you’re a “Here We Come A-wassailing,” Yule log, Tiny Tim, and plum pudding-type of holiday reveler, have I got the holly for you to grow at home! English, aka common, holly (Ilex aquifolium) is native to Europe, north Africa, and western Asia, and its sprigs are spiny, glossy green or variegated, and full of wreath-ready red berries in winter....

And while they may be most visible during the leafless winter months, they can appear in any season. Forsythia is a spring-blooming shrub suitable for cultivation in USDA Hardiness Zones 5-8. It is a low-maintenance, robust plant that tolerates a variety of growing conditions, from dense clay soil to the juglone toxicity of black walnut trees. Occasionally, this sturdy shrub develops knot-like, woody deformities called galls that may appear either individually or in clusters along the stems....

In many areas, they don’t even need supplemental irrigation. As for fertilizing and pruning? Typically, these are rare tasks. Juniperus spp. Chances are you’ve seen juniper shrubs growing all over the place, from the carefully sculpted topiaries flanking the doorway of a home, to the wild plants thriving in the unlikeliest of places. Junipers grow in a massive range of environmental conditions, and they’ve been cultivated by numerous cultures throughout history as medicine, food, and for their ornamental value....

Options with alluring and unique foliage colors or variegation are available as well. But the variety extends beyond those eye-popping hues and patterns, and new cultivars are being introduced all the time. Petunias are the perfect flowers for gardeners who believe variety is the spice of life. The Petunia genus includes a dazzling array of bloom colors, like pink, red, purple, and white, as well as bicolors, picotees, and blooms that look like the night sky, speckled with stars....

But what happens if springtime comes and your bleeding hearts don’t bloom, or they produce just a few flowers? As a child, I was entranced by heart-shaped lockets. While I still think they’re neat as an adult, I tend to prefer plants over necklaces. One of my favorite types of flowers resembles a lady’s locket: bleeding hearts (Lamprocapnos spectabilis). These members of the poppy family, Papaveraceae, bear heart-shaped flowers on fleshy stems....

Gardeners, if you have not learned to compost for fertilization, fall is a perfect time to start. Why? To take advantage of all those fallen leaves, of course! Why Compost? Composting is an economical and environmentally-sound way to fertilize your soil. It makes for the richest growing soil available, as it is high in potassium, phosphorus, nitrogen. You are basically duplicating Mother Nature’s plan for the lushest forests and natural gardens....

This herb may be a heat loving annual, but it turns out that with a few simple considerations in mind, growing it is very doable – even at my home in Vermont! Cuminum cyminum Cumin, Cuminum cyminum, is probably my all time favorite culinary spice. Since I use it in just about everything that I cook, I am careful to make sure cumin seed is always in stock in my kitchen....

Herbs are just as easy to grow in containers as they are in the garden. So you can enjoy them growing near the kitchen for convenience, or placed around decks and patios. Container herb gardens are among the easiest and most rewarding of garden projects. A must-have for cooks, herbs add wonderful flavor and fragrance to cooked foods and salads. But they provide many more benefits that go beyond their use in cooking....

Who knew that mulch can be the enemy? It’s sad, but true – a thick layer of mulch can be a haven for these pathogens. There are few things more disheartening in gardening than stepping outside and finding that your precious plants have collapsed. While there can be other causes for the collapse, crown rot is a common culprit. As I’m sure you know, fungi and water molds run rampant in the soil, and disease-causing pathogens can get the upper hand (or leaf)....

You can succeed, but achieving success will be more difficult than it is for your fellow gardeners who are growing in easy-to-till loam. Hard, heavy earth is never going to be anyone’s first choice of growing medium for these stars of the vegetable garden. When you want to grow tomatoes but the soil in your garden is sticky and lumpy, is there any way to meet your goals? You’ll be happy to know you can grow tomatoes in clay soil!...

Now, it’s hard to get mad at these little insects, because they’re important pollinators. They’re docile as can be, and rarely sting, doing so only when forced to. In fact, the males don’t even have stingers – although they put on a good show of buzzing intruders. Xylocopa Ah, springtime! Don’t you just love the glorious profusion of new life as gardens and landscapes wake up from their long sleep? The days get longer, flowers and trees blossom, and birds, butterflies, and cute critters return from their winter respite....

Most Orchids are grown for their beautiful blooms. But, not Jewel Orchids, as they have stunning foliage to match with their flowers! If you too want it in your house, then here’s everything on Jewel Orchid Care. Botanical Name: Ludisia discolor Common Name: Jeweled Orchid Check out our article on how to grow orchids here Best Jeweled Orchid Varieties Ludisia discolor ‘Alba’ – It has deep green foliage with sparkling silver-white lines....

If you’re growing these delicious fruits, whose botanical genus name Diospyros translates to something like “food of the gods,” how do you know when they’re ripe and ready for picking? The first time I saw a persimmon, I thought it was a tomato that I was expected to eat raw and whole. It’s not, of course – it’s much better. Or at least it’s much better for those of us who don’t like eating tomatoes out of hand like apples, and who do love the sweet tang of this unique fruit....

Let’s learn more about this beautiful genus of plants that provide a welcome burst of springtime color. While its brilliantly-colored beauty is enough to make even the sourest puss happy, a crocus poking its brightly hued head through the snow is known to trigger frenzied joy in those who feel perpetually winter-afflicted. Many gardeners look to the appearance of crocuses as the first sign that spring is but a nanosecond away....

As a kid, if I wanted to swing or slide, I just walked across the street to the neighborhood park. Are you shopping for backyard playground equipment and feeling overwhelmed by your options? From safe clearances to customization, you’ll find everything you need to know in this article. Plus, we share 17 of our top picks, with favorites based on age group and materials. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products....

How about growing some quirky-shaped vegetables, in a rainbow of colors, that are as intriguing to look at as they are delicious to eat? Do you want to grow the best tomatoes? Then planting heirloom varieties is the way to go. These are plants that hark back to the days when food crops were about nutrition and flavor, not rushing an unripe, tasteless, and vitamin-deficient crop to market. Stop subjecting your family to the ordinary, pale-fleshed, flavorless fruits that dominate grocery store shelves, or paying premium prices to experiment with gourmet varieties....

To help you match your plants with eye-catching pots, here are some awesome pictures of Painted Pots for Every Gardeners Inspiration! Have a look at some great pot painting DIYs here Painted Pots for Every Gardeners Inspiration 1. Painted Cement Pots 2. Pots with Gold Bands for Cacti 3. Hand Painted Terracotta Pots 4. Black Cement Pot with Blue Specks 5. Gray and Pink Pots for Succulents 6. Cement Planters with Handmade Designs 7....