In our bok choy growing guide, you’ll find all you need to know to raise your own crop, including sowing for summer and fall harvests, and recommended cultivars. Bok choy, also known commonly as pak choi or sui bak choy, and botanically as Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis, is a non-heading cabbage that is native to China. There are dwarf types, called baby leaf bok choy, as well as full-size cultivars....

I no longer make hollyhock dolls, which means I had to figure out if I should be deadheading the flowers as I do with so many other plants. Turns out, the answer isn’t totally straightforward. My grandma would make dolls out of the hollyhocks that grew in her front yard, turning the large blossoms into skirts for her new companions. She taught us to do the same thing when my sister and I were young, so my mom never had to worry about deadheading her hollyhocks....

This will help to ensure that the new grass you are about to put down will get the fullest possible amount of sunlight, as well as prevent the possibility of unwanted fungal growth later on. Chances are that after the long winter, there are at least a few patches in your turf that are sparse, or completely bare. Those spots can lend themselves to erosion, and spoil the overall appearance of your lawn....

Here are some Awesome Round Leaf Houseplants that are easy to grow and will look cute in your plant collection! Have a look at some classy silver leaf houseplants here Awesome Round Leaf Houseplants 1. Chinese Money Plant Botanical Name: Pilea peperomioides The coin-shaped, round green leaves are popular among gardeners. It is also considered a good luck plant. Learn how to grow Chinese money plant here 2. String of Turtles Botanical Name: Peperomia prostrata...

About the Society Since 1905, the National Audubon Society has operated as a nonprofit mainly concerned with the protection of birds. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. From the scaly-coned Pacific Silver Fir to the spiny-barked Devil’s Walking Stick, readers will discover over 540 unique native species and almost 2,500 color photos. If you read our review of the “National Audubon Society Birds of North America,” you know you’re in for a treat with the scope and quality of an Audubon book....

Simplicity is key. Taking the steps to make the job of front yard lanscaping easier on yourself will allow you the time to just sit back and enjoy the garden, free from weeding and planting all summer long. Although one of my favorite pastimes in the spring and summer is gardening, there are times that I just want to relax and not worry about the weeds or how tall the grass has grown....

Even better, it can live for a decade with the right care. And providing this isn’t hard to do, as it’s an easygoing, low-maintenance plant. Cissus alata Have you always loved the look of ivy climbing a brick or stone wall? While most of us can’t recreate that look at home – and probably don’t truly want to, as English ivy can be destructive to even the toughest brick walls – grape ivy (Cissus alata) provides an ideal substitute....

Luckily, most of the issues you’ll encounter when growing blueberries are easy to identify, as long as you’re paying attention. Blueberries are a tasty and beautiful addition to any home garden. Unfortunately, you’re not the only one that enjoys a plump blueberry – you might need to deal with insect pests and local wildlife. Additionally, there are a number of pathogens that can cause disease, potentially leading to a reduced harvest, or in severe cases, death of your plant....

But maybe you’re not a commercial grower, and you simply desire some pretty foliage bedecked with colorful bracts for the holiday season. In order to succeed in this world, you have to keep your moneymakers in decent condition. Talented singers exercise their vocal cords, pro athletes work with nutritionists and physical trainers, and poinsettias aren’t really so different. In the plant world, poinsettias grown for profit need their leaves to be at peak levels of health and appearance – otherwise, they’ll be unmarketable....

Even more fascinating, I. batatas are part of the morning glory family, Convolvulaceae, while true yams belong to the Dioscoreaceae family. Yams are completely unrelated to sweet potatoes! A certain family member of mine insists that only the tuberous root veggies with cream-colored flesh are real sweet potatoes. The orange things, she says, are yams. Friends, my dear family member is wrong. Just about every sweet potato you see at the store – especially the orange ones – is a true sweet potato, also called “sweetpotato,” botanical name Ipomoea batatas....

Here’s what we’ll cover: Broccoli, Brassica oleracea var. italica, is a cruciferous vegetable in the Brassicaceae, or cabbage family. It is a cool-weather crop that can be quite challenging to grow. In this article, we discuss why plants may produce heads that button, or form multiple tiny heads, as opposed to one large, compact one. Then we offer steps to take to avoid this outcome. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products....

Cycas revoluta is not plagued by many types of insect pests or diseases, but there are a few items to keep in mind and look out for, preventive care options, and ways to troubleshoot common problems when they arise. So, you’ve added a sago palm or two (or five!) to your garden. And who can blame you? In warm climates they’re hardy plants that can be grown outdoors, with impressively feathery, shiny dark green foliage that evokes a prehistoric feel straight out of Jurassic Park, the perfect backdrop to the backyard dinosaur display of your dreams....

I squinted while thinking about it. “Hmm, I’m not quite–” I was working in a garden center when an older gentleman with a fishing hat on (I knew it was fishing hat because he had his license pinned to the back of it) came searching for a flower. “It’s orange. No… it’s red… I’ve seen it in purple, too,” he explained. I shook my head. “Quite a few options here. What else can you add?...

When summer and fall roll around, it provides delicate pops of light pink to lavender star-shaped blooms, topping each stem in an umbrella-shaped cluster. Allium stellatum Prairie, cliff, pink wild, autumn, or fall glade onion… I’ll just sit back and let the many common names of Allium stellatum tell you all about this pretty plant for me. “Pretty” and “onion” in the same sentence? Why, yes! Early in the spring when there isn’t much green showing in the garden yet, this plant is sprouting leaves....

When it comes to using these flowers as a form of pest repellent, there’s a good reason to be planting those golden beauties next to your edible plants, and scientific research has confirmed it. Marigolds have a bit of a reputation in the gardening world. They’re known for repelling all manner of pests and diseases, whether they’ve technically earned these accolades or not. It’s extremely common to see their cheery heads nodding in the summer sunshine next to tomatoes, squash, and broccoli....

The world of plants has long been inspiring and magical to many cultures. So inspiring, in fact, that references to plants are more ingrained into our lives than we might think! Gardening, agriculture, and plant relationships have been very central to humanity; so much so that folklore surrounding them found its way into ancient beliefs, customs, and mottos today, even the names of the plants themselves. How did this come to pass?...

Growing a bonsai tree brings all the positive aspects of nature to your home as it symbolizes harmony and peace. Here are some great Indoor Bonsai Pictures for inspiration! Here’s everything you need to know about growing a bonsai quickly! Beautiful Indoor Bonsai Pictures 1. Baby Jade A post shared by AO Hobbies ~ Jade Bonsai (@ao_thehobbyists) Botanical Name: Portulacaria afra Also popular as ‘Elephant Plant’ or ‘Small leaf Jade,’ it is quite easy to grow and a great bonsai for beginners....

You may not live in a place like the Columbia River Gorge with its plentiful sunshine, but you can still grow apricot trees at home if you live in USDA Hardiness Zones 4 through 9. Prunus armeniaca As a kid, I spent a few summers camping along the Columbia River in Maryhill, Washington – Yakama Nation land – where some of the best stone fruits in the world are grown....

The golden fruits are also a little sweeter than the dark green varieties, in my experience. I’m such a fan of zucchini for the home garden. I consider it the perfect starter vegetable for the newbie who wants a great return with minimal effort, and the ideal upgrade for a veteran green thumb looking to fill the freezer with tasty produce. When this veggie garden overachiever is an attractive butter yellow color, as is the case with golden zucchini, that’s just one more benefit (or as we say in the South, “one more jewel in the crown”)....

We don’t want you to lose those tasty sprouts. This guide will help you stop diseases before they can start. If those sneaky pathogens manage to take hold, we can also help you get them under control. Summer veggies receive all the attention. Tomatoes, squash, eggplants, beans, and melons overflow the baskets at farmers markets and neighbors share their bounties with each other in August. But there’s something extra special about early spring and fall veggies like brussels sprouts....