We humans have a lot going for us physically. Dermal sweat glands, opposable thumbs, an upright gait for energy-efficient locomotion… the list is rather long. Yuccas may be prone to frost damage, but at least they can grow back their succulent leaves in time! We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. Not to mention our super-high intelligence and sociability as a species, which has allowed humanity to establish itself at the top of Earth’s food chain....

CALAMINTHA While calamint (Calamintha) might not be the most well-known shrub in the United States, it certainly deserves a more prominent role in our landscapes. A hardy, deer-resistant perennial that produces profuse and showy delicate blooms from early summer to autumn, calamint offers a number of varieties and cultivars that make a fine addition to gardens of all types. Characterized by a distinctive minty scent, this plant is native to many parts of the world, most notably the Mediterranean, with couple of varieties that are native to North America....

After reading Kathy Shea Mormino’s “The Chicken Chick’s Guide to Backyard Chickens,” however, I may be tempted to join my renegade neighbors in their illicit fowl-raising practices. Full disclosure: I don’t have chickens. My homeowner’s association prohibits them. Nor, before reading this book, did I particularly want a flock. HOA rules aside, a couple of my neighbors raise these birds, and I just didn’t get the appeal. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products....

Applying fertilizers of various types can help to support blooms, foliage, and fruit; boost production; and even aid in pest and disease resistance. But which type is the best vegetable fertilizer? Most of us want our veggie garden to produce bumper crops, don’t we? Whether we’re feeding a family, sharing with friends and neighbors, selling from a produce stand, or canning and preserving for future use, abundance is usually what we’re aiming for....

And the good news doesn’t stop there. A low-growing, easygoing, evergreen perennial that grows happily in tough places, creeping phlox is the perfect option to bring a splash of color to a rock garden, or for a cascading cover over stone walls. A Tale of Two Species: Phlox stolonifera and Phlox subulata A name like “creeping phlox” might not sound particularly inspiring. In fact, when I first heard of it, I was pretty sure that it wasn’t going to be a particularly pretty plant at all....

You might imagine that such a gorgeous houseplant would be very high maintenance. Not so! On the contrary, hoyas probably need a little less attention than average. Hoya spp. You’d be forgiven for overlooking hoyas at first glance. Their beauty can be a bit understated. But once these houseplants do catch your eye, watch out – you might fall down a very deep hoya rabbit hole. One of things that makes these lovely climbing and trailing houseplants so intriguing is their vast array of leaf colors, shapes, and textures....

Upfront disclaimer: I am not a “boot person,” so trying this pair was my first foray into wearing anything resembling a boot in a long time. It’s been a positive experience. I’m a picky guy (I prefer “a guy with refined taste,” for the record), and that pickiness is particularly exacting when it comes to footwear. From running to working in greenhouses and tromping through woods, gardens, and parks, I know what makes a shoe good or bad....

Many are suited to home garden cultivation in USDA Hardiness Zones 3-8, and are available in shades of pink, purple, red, white, and yellow. Paeonia spp. For an ornamental highlight in late spring to early summer, fill your garden beds and borders with the luscious blossoms of perennial peony (Paeonia spp.). The Paeonia genus is the only one in the Paeoniaceae family of plants. There are 33 species and 15 subspecies native to Asia, Europe, and North America....

Pierce’s disease or bacterial leaf scorch has come in waves over the years, but things for California’s wine, raisin, and grape industry took a turn for the worse in the 1990s when a new type of insect was accidentally introduced from infested nursery stock from the southeast. Xylella fastidiosa subsp. fastidiosa In the 1880s, a new disease decimated vineyards in the Los Angeles basin. California’s first professional plant pathologist, Newton B....

If you don’t have a space for a full-fledged yard, you can still enjoy the beauty of a mini garden by growing these Miniature Water Lily Varieties in small aquatic containers! Here’s all you need to know about growing Water Lily in glasses Beautiful Miniature Water Lily Varieties 1. Nymphaea pygmaea ‘Helvola’ One of the most popular water lilies, it features yellow blooms and green leaves with dark markings. It is a great plant for small containers and does well in full sun....

Now, the choices are extensive. Snapdragons have come a long way in the past 100 years. Prior to the 1950s, the plants were mostly short, with stumpy stalks and muted flower colors. There was nothing like the variety of heights and color variations available today. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. If you want a cultivar with strong, super tall stalks, you can have it....

I used to hate the idea of growing roses, partially because I didn’t like growing anything that I couldn’t cook with, or anything that was overly fussy. Rosa spp. There’s one thing that I constantly run into when talking to gardeners who are interested in growing roses: A sense of being overwhelmed. There seems to be so much involved, right? It’s true, there are a ton of different varieties and cultivars, from wild to floribunda to tea roses....

Without proper preparation, this tropical beauty is going to suffer – or perhaps even die. No one wants to lose plants they love to frost damage, not to mention the time and money at stake as well. Don’t let winter cold and frost destroy your beautiful bougainvillea! If you’re growing a flourishing vine, shrub, or tree outdoors, in the ground or in a container, then winterizing is a crucial step to take before low temperatures and frost threaten in cooler zones....

All members of the Monarda genus have a tendency to run amok through the garden with their spreading root systems, creating new plants that pop up all over – especially if you have rich, moist soil. Bee balm, also known as Monarda (Monarda spp.), is a well-known flower and herb throughout North America. Its colorful blooms are like a slow-motion, multi-month fireworks display that captures the attention of people, bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds each summer....

From Dianthus to Primula, we need to know which ground each plant prefers. Here’s what’s to come in this article: There is a worldwide discussion today on what is happening to our soil, over the whole planet. This is important, and this topic could comprise a whole article in itself. As gardeners, however, we are more concerned with the ground that we have in our own plots. The more we know about this vital commodity, the better plants we produce, and the better our gardens become....

Here’s what’s in store: Late season asters are transitional flowers that bloom between summer and fall, bringing masses of small blossoms and rich texture to end of season gardens. In this article, we focus on 13 companion plants that share cultural requirements and stature with late season varieties. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission....

Some varieties can live for up to fifty years, so undertaking such a planting is truly a long-term investment, on par with planting a fruit tree – but with much quicker gratification. Have you ever seen a lawn or hillside dotted with nodding yellow and white daffodils in spring? Most likely, those lovely springtime flowers didn’t just pop up there – someone planted them. Only, they were planted intentionally with a combination of careful planning and a laissez-faire approach, to make them look like nature’s hand was in control....

I’m going to guide you through the entire process. Here’s a sneak peek at the steps involved in this project: Have you ever wished you could grow a parlor palm tree from seed? Well, you’ve come to the right place. As long as you’ve got plenty of patience, you can! Many houseplants are difficult, or even impossible, to grow from seed. But – provided you are willing to bring along a healthy dose of patience – this is not so with parlor palms....

Roses need a little help when it comes to climbing. They won’t do it all on their own, so you’ll need to have something for them to climb on and you might need to attach the canes using tape or twine. Is there anything more delightful than a fence draped in colorful flowers, or walking under an arbor woven with fragrant blossoms? There’s just something so beautiful about climbing roses....

Collard greens, Brassica oleracea var. acephala, are a cool-weather crop that usually takes about 80 days from sowing to producing full-size leaves – even when you start the seeds indoors. If you’ve ever coached a little kids’ sports team or managed a crucial project for work or school, you know the value of the motto, “finish strong.” And while growing collard greens in your home garden is by no means a competitive event, you’ll benefit by taking the same approach at harvest time....