All Home Gardening SolutionsTrees & ShrubsDIY Garden ProjectsLandscape Solutions READ MORE Getting Phalaenopsis and Oncidium to Rebloom February 6, 2021 Container Gardening, DIY Garden Projects, Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Indoor, Mike Darcy Moth orchids, or Phalaenopsis, are the most commonly sold orchids and easiest to grow. I... READ MORE 10 Tips for Seed Starting on a Budget February 1, 2021 Container Gardening, DIY Garden Projects, Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Garden Writers, Herbs, Home Gardening Solutions, Jessie Keith, Landscape Solutions, Organic Gardening, Outdoor, Vegetable & Edible Gardening, Vegetables Reused plastic cups make good seedling pots as long as you poke holes in... READ MORE Winter Garden Tasks for a Happy Garden January 11, 2021 Container Gardening, Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Indoor, Landscape Solutions, Mike Darcy, Outdoor, Trees & Shrubs Winter Garden Tasks for a Happy Garden Here we are in January at the start... READ MORE Inspirational Classic English Gardens January 11, 2021 Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions, Teri Keith, Trees & Shrubs Inspirational Classic English Gardens I have always been in love with English gardens, from the... READ MORE Best New Herbs and Vegetables for 2021 January 5, 2021 Garden Writers, Herbs, Home Gardening Solutions, Jessie Keith, Organic Gardening, Vegetable & Edible Gardening, Vegetables The large-fruited 'Orange Accordion' is uniquely beautiful and delicious. (Image thanks to Baker Creek... READ MORE Small Evergreen Conifers for Winter Gardening December 11, 2020 Container Gardening, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions, Mike Darcy, Outdoor, Trees & Shrubs Kohout’s Ice Breaker Korean fir has beautiful silvery and blue-green foliage that stands out... READ MORE Winter-Fruiting Trees for Lasting Beauty December 8, 2020 Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions, Pollinator & Wildlife, Teri Keith, Trees & Shrubs 'Winter King' green hawthorn has persistent fruits that are loved by cedar waxwings. Now that... READ MORE DIY Holiday Wreath from the Garden December 7, 2020 DIY Garden Projects, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Jessie Keith, Landscape Solutions DIY Holiday Wreaths from the Garden Homemade wreath making can be expensive if you invest... READ MORE The Hippest Roses with Colorful Hips November 9, 2020 Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Fruits, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions, Mike Darcy, Vegetable & Edible Gardening Rose hips can really add bright color to the fall and early winter landscape. Generally,... READ MORE Planting Spring Bulbs Late: Rules and Tips November 3, 2020 Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions, Teri Keith You can tell the health of daffodil bulbs by squeezing them. Healthy bulbs are... READ MORE Cool Succulent Hanging House Plants November 3, 2020 Container Gardening, DIY Garden Projects, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Indoor, Jessie Keith, Outdoor Don't underestimate the length and weight of some hanging succulents, like these donkey's tails... READ MORE Victorian Cemeteries and Flowers that Honor the Dead October 14, 2020 Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Garden Writers, Landscape Solutions, Teri Keith Many angel statues can be found at Victorian cemeteries, like Mount Auburn Cemetery (Cambridge,... READ MORE Fall Garden Tasks for a Happy Garden with Mike Darcy October 7, 2020 DIY Garden Projects, Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions, Mike Darcy Fall Garden Tasks for a Happy Garden Here in the Pacific Northwest, we often get... READ MORE How to Make a Gorgeous Fragrant or Edible Herb Wreath September 30, 2020 DIY Garden Projects, Garden Writers, Herbs, Home Gardening Solutions, Jessie Keith, Organic Gardening, Vegetable & Edible Gardening Fresh or dried herbs or herbal flowers can be used to make wonderful medicinal,... READ MORE How To Repot House Plants in Six Steps September 25, 2020 Container Gardening, DIY Garden Projects, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Indoor, Jessie Keith, Organic Gardening, Outdoor Your once beautiful house plant has begun to look stressed. Maybe it's lost some... READ MORE Favorite Shade-Loving Flowering Shrubs and Perennials for Fall September 8, 2020 Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions, Mike Darcy, Pollinator & Wildlife Reblooming hydrangeas, yellow waxbells, and fuchsias are three reliable bloomers that flower into fall. We’ve... READ MORE Viburnums For Any Landscape September 6, 2020 Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Home Gardening Solutions, Trees & Shrubs Right: bright red Viburnum opulus berries, do droop. They also feed hungry songbirds. What exactly... READ MORE Fall Garden Flowers of the Prairies September 4, 2020 Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions, Pollinator & Wildlife, Teri Keith The golden strands of the prairie native, wrinkleleaf goldenrod, look right at home in... READ MORE Bountiful Fall Berries for Gardens September 3, 2020 Container Gardening, Fruits, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Jessie Keith, Landscape Solutions, Organic Gardening, Outdoor, Vegetable & Edible Gardening Bountiful Fall Berries for Gardens As a child, we had golden raspberries in our woods... READ MORE How to Plant and Site Trees and Shrubs August 30, 2020 DIY Garden Projects, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions, Organic Gardening, Russell Stafford, Trees & Shrubs The key to successful gardening is to go (and grow) with what you’ve got.... READ MORE Late-Summer Garden Tasks for a Happy Garden August 12, 2020 Container Gardening, DIY Garden Projects, Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Garden Writers, Herbs, Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions, Mike Darcy, Outdoor, Vegetable & Edible Gardening, Vegetables Late-Summer Garden Tasks for a Happy Garden Sometimes this time of year is referred to... READ MORE How to Revive Midsummer Garden Flowers August 8, 2020 Container Gardening, DIY Garden Projects, Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Home Gardening Solutions, Outdoor, Pollinator & Wildlife How to Revive Midsummer Garden Flowers The neverending summer heat, especially here in the Midwest,... READ MORE My Eight Favorite Summer Cut Flowers August 1, 2020 DIY Garden Projects, Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Jessie Keith, Organic Gardening, Pollinator & Wildlife A bouquet of summer dahlias and China asters will beautify any vase. It's always nice... READ MORE How to Make Herb-Infused Vinegars and Oils August 1, 2020 DIY Garden Projects, Garden Writers, Herbs, Home Gardening Solutions, Organic Gardening, Stephanie Rose, Vegetable & Edible Gardening Make Herb-Infused Vinegars and Oils Making your own herbal infusions in oils and vinegar is... READ MORE Five Easy Steps for a Socially Distanced Garden Party July 10, 2020 DIY Garden Projects, Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Stephanie Rose, Vegetable & Edible Gardening Five Easy Steps for a Socially Distanced Garden Party A garden or spacious yard is... READ MORE Favorite Summer Flowers for Butterflies July 9, 2020 Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions, Organic Gardening, Pollinator & Wildlife, Teri Keith A tiger swallowtail perches and feeds on a purple coneflower. One joy of summer is... READ MORE The Best Container Plants for July Heat July 8, 2020 Container Gardening, Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Mike Darcy, Outdoor, Pollinator & Wildlife The Best Container Plants for July Heat It is July, and there are so many... READ MORE Green Roof Essentials for Home Gardeners July 1, 2020 Container Gardening, DIY Garden Projects, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Jessie Keith, Landscape Solutions, Outdoor Any green roof added to a home, such as this stylish patio green roof,... READ MORE Soil pH Testing From Home Made Easy June 22, 2020 DIY Garden Projects, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions, Organic Gardening, Stephanie Rose Soil pH Testing From Home Made Easy When asked about soil and gardens, the most... READ MORE Perennials for Dry Shade June 16, 2020 Container Gardening, Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions, Outdoor, Teri Keith Japanese anemones are excellent shade perennials with late-season blooms. Here in the Midwest, we have... READ MORE Early Summer Garden Tasks for a Happy Garden June 13, 2020 Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Fruits, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions, Mike Darcy, Organic Gardening, Trees & Shrubs, Vegetable & Edible Gardening, Vegetables By the time the month of June arrives, I like to think that I... READ MORE Fragrant Garden Flowers to Soothe the Senses June 1, 2020 Container Gardening, Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Jessie Keith, Pollinator & Wildlife, Trees & Shrubs Fragrant Garden Flowers: Lilac (top left), clove pinks (bottom left), honeysuckle (bottom right). Close your... READ MORE Diverse, Beautiful Garden Hostas May 11, 2020 Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions, Mike Darcy Diverse, beautiful garden Hostas come in all colors and sizes. The plant kingdom never ceases... READ MORE Cottage Gardens for American Gardeners May 5, 2020 Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions, Pollinator & Wildlife, Teri Keith An old cottage garden border contains peonies and oriental poppies, among other old-fashioned flowers. I... READ MORE Essential Culinary Herbs of the Seasons May 1, 2020 Container Gardening, DIY Garden Projects, Garden Writers, Herbs, Home Gardening Solutions, Indoor, Jessie Keith, Organic Gardening, Outdoor, Vegetable & Edible Gardening Essential culinary herbs are best planted in spring. Stylish and serviceable herb gardens are a... READ MORE Green Screens: Planting for Privacy May 1, 2020 Carole Ottesen, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions, Trees & Shrubs Gardeners can create layers of screening plants to create privacy, enclosures, and drama within... READ MORE The Best Fruits for Container Gardening April 28, 2020 Container Gardening, Fruits, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Outdoor, Stephanie Rose, Trees & Shrubs, Vegetable & Edible Gardening Strawberries are one of the very best fruits for container gardening. You don't need a... READ MORE 10 Essential Tips For New Vegetable Gardeners April 16, 2020 Container Gardening, DIY Garden Projects, Fruits, Garden Writers, Herbs, Home Gardening Solutions, Jessie Keith, Organic Gardening, Outdoor, Vegetable & Edible Gardening, Vegetables The new vegetable gardener will succeed if given the right information from the beginning. With... READ MORE Spring Garden Tasks for a Happy Garden April 8, 2020 Container Gardening, DIY Garden Projects, Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Fruits, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions, Mike Darcy, Organic Gardening, Outdoor, Vegetable & Edible Gardening, Vegetables Amidst these very troubling and upsetting times due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I appreciate... READ MORE The ABCs of Hanging Basket Creation and Care April 3, 2020 Container Gardening, DIY Garden Projects, Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Indoor, Organic Gardening, Outdoor, Pollinator & Wildlife, Teri Keith Dark Eyes Fuchsia is a stellar variety with glowing flowers that attract hummingbirds. Spring is... READ MORE Creating Your Own DIY Plant Labels From Recycled Materials April 2, 2020 Container Gardening, DIY Garden Projects, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Indoor, Outdoor, Stephanie Rose, Vegetable & Edible Gardening Creating painted rocks is a fun family activity, and they look beautiful in the... READ MORE Lessons from a Wartime Victory Garden March 26, 2020 DIY Garden Projects, Fruits, Garden Writers, Herbs, Home Gardening Solutions, Jessie Keith, Organic Gardening, Vegetable & Edible Gardening, Vegetables Victory Gardens inspired millions of Americans that had never gardened to grow food to... READ MORE How to Amend Clay Soils March 10, 2020 Container Gardening, DIY Garden Projects, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions, Mike Darcy, Trees & Shrubs, Vegetable & Edible Gardening One of the garden necessities that should never be overlooked is having the right... READ MORE Growing And Enjoying Old-Fashioned Lilacs March 10, 2020 Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Teri Keith, Trees & Shrubs The French heirloom double lilac 'Montaigne' is a very fine bloomer. (Image by Jessie... READ MORE Five Steps to Creating a No-Till Vegetable Garden March 1, 2020 Container Gardening, DIY Garden Projects, Fruits, Garden Writers, Herbs, Home Gardening Solutions, Jessie Keith, Landscape Solutions, Organic Gardening, Outdoor, Vegetable & Edible Gardening, Vegetables The author's no-till garden in early spring after compost and straw have been applied.... READ MORE Ornamental Spreaders, Cascaders, and Creepers for the Garden March 1, 2020 Carole Ottesen, Container Gardening, Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions, Organic Gardening, Outdoor Creeping thyme has the benefit of being both culinary and a wonderful ornamental creeper... READ MORE Late-Winter Garden Tasks for a Happy Garden February 11, 2020 DIY Garden Projects, Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions, Mike Darcy, Organic Gardening Clean off any debris that has collected on the lawn over the winter. Take a... READ MORE Tough, Easy, Ever-Blooming Garden Flowers February 7, 2020 Container Gardening, Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions, Outdoor, Pollinator & Wildlife, Teri Keith Black and Blue salvia (left), Twisted Red celosia (top right), and French marigolds (bottom... READ MORE Tomato Diseases: Identification and Solutions February 1, 2020 Fruits, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Jessie Keith, Organic Gardening, Vegetable & Edible Gardening, Vegetables From upper left: blossom end rot, late blight, and tobacco mosaic virus. Tomatoes are the... READ MORE Beating The Five Most Common Vegetable Garden Pests Naturally January 24, 2020 Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Jessie Keith, Landscape Solutions, Organic Gardening, Vegetable & Edible Gardening, Vegetables My daughter is picking off Colorado potato beetles from potato plants. For the past 14... READ MORE Black Gold Days Until Spring Countdown January 17, 2020 Home Gardening Solutions Countdown to Spring Timer READ MORE Out-of-Madagascar Succulent House Plants January 13, 2020 Container Gardening, Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Indoor, Landscape Solutions, Maureen Gilmer, Outdoor Much like the unique plants and wildlife of Galapagos Islands that evolved in isolation,... READ MORE Award-Winning Flowers for 2020 January 13, 2020 Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions, Mike Darcy, Pollinator & Wildlife Echinacea Sombrero® Baja Burgundy (Image by AAS Winners) The beginning of the year is always... READ MORE How to Water House Plants January 4, 2020 Container Gardening, Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Home Gardening Solutions, Indoor, Landscape Solutions, Organic Gardening, Outdoor, Trees & Shrubs, Vegetable & Edible Gardening Watering house plants...it sounds simple, doesn't it? But, if it were simple, there would... READ MORE Rosemary Is For Winter and Gifting December 1, 2019 Container Gardening, DIY Garden Projects, Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Garden Writers, Herbs, Home Gardening Solutions, Indoor, Maureen Gilmer, Organic Gardening, Outdoor, Pollinator & Wildlife, Vegetable & Edible Gardening Fill pretty, recycled jars with freshly-dried rosemary for holiday gifts for foodies (and pet... READ MORE Beyond Poinsettias: Fresh Holiday House Plants December 1, 2019 Container Gardening, DIY Garden Projects, Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Fruits, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Indoor, Jessie Keith, Organic Gardening, Outdoor, Vegetable & Edible Gardening Florist's gloxinia has fallen out of vogue but has spectacular flowers in winter. Red, green,... READ MORE Black Gold's 2019 Garden Photo Contest Winners November 7, 2019 Contests & Giveaways, DIY Garden Projects, Home Gardening Solutions We were excited to have received hundreds of photos for our garden photo contest... READ MORE Favorite Oregon Grapes for Landscape and Garden November 4, 2019 Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions, Mike Darcy, Pollinator & Wildlife, Trees & Shrubs A well-established Oregon grape looks spectacular in full fruit. It was not too many years... READ MORE Succulent Wreaths Renewed November 2, 2019 Container Gardening, DIY Garden Projects, Home Gardening Solutions, Indoor, Outdoor This beautiful designer wreath features only rosette-shaped succulents with great color. Succulent wreaths began in... READ MORE Overcoming Problems With Ornamental Grasses November 1, 2019 Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions, Maureen Gilmer In-ground, grasses are perfect for planting in dry stream beds and among wildflowers. (Photo... READ MORE Native Evergreen Ferns for Perennially Beautiful Shade Gardens October 21, 2019 Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Jessie Keith, Landscape Solutions, Organic Gardening Christmas fern is one of the toughest and easiest of the eastern evergreen ferns... READ MORE Overwintering Outdoor Ceramic Containers October 7, 2019 Container Gardening, Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Indoor, Mike Darcy, Outdoor With 150+ potted containers throughout my garden, it is important that I overwinter them... READ MORE Grey and Silver Garden Plants for Arid Gardens October 1, 2019 Container Gardening, Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Indoor, Landscape Solutions, Maureen Gilmer, Outdoor Cascading licorice plant, feathery Artemisia, and large-leaved silver plectranthus show textural comparisons. (Image by... READ MORE Flamboyant Parrot Tulips for a Fabulous Spring October 1, 2019 Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Jessie Keith, Landscape Solutions Spring bulbs are for fall planting, and when you plan next spring's garden palette,... READ MORE Bold Grasses for the Fall Garden September 10, 2019 Container Gardening, Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions, Mike Darcy, Outdoor Pennisetum 'Jade Princess' is a spectacular variety with huge, showy plumes. With many summer-flowering annuals... READ MORE Blazing Garden Plants For Autumn Glory September 6, 2019 Carole Ottesen, Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions, Pollinator & Wildlife, Trees & Shrubs As the season grows cooler, the old flower heads of tall sedums darken. (Image... READ MORE Herb Crafting: Three Herbs to Grow and Ways to Use Them September 1, 2019 DIY Garden Projects, Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Garden Writers, Herbs, Home Gardening Solutions, Organic Gardening, Stephanie Rose, Vegetable & Edible Gardening You don’t need a huge garden to make an abundance of herb crafts to... READ MORE Sweetgum for Fall Sunset Color Out West September 1, 2019 Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions, Maureen Gilmer, Trees & Shrubs "Red oaks are supposed to turn red in the fall, not brown." People always... READ MORE Nuts For Edible Landscaping September 1, 2019 Fruits, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Jessie Keith, Landscape Solutions, Trees & Shrubs, Vegetable & Edible Gardening Nuts are some of nature's most nutritious foods. They are high in fats and... READ MORE Ginkgos Large and Small August 6, 2019 Container Gardening, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions, Mike Darcy, Outdoor, Trees & Shrubs In Portland, Oregon, Ginkgo biloba trees line the streets in an area called Park... READ MORE Southwestern Sustainable Farmscaping: Planting for Home Livestock August 1, 2019 Garden Writers, Herbs, Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions, Maureen Gilmer, Organic Gardening The right plants can provide needed cover for livestock, repel insects, and serve as... READ MORE Marvelous Miniature Flower Arranging August 1, 2019 Container Gardening, DIY Garden Projects, Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Jessie Keith, Outdoor Small is sweet, especially when it comes to flowers and gardens. Miniature and fairy... READ MORE My Favorite Summer Flowering Trees July 6, 2019 Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions, Mike Darcy, Trees & Shrubs With the proliferation of spring-flowering shrubs and trees, sometimes the trees that flower in... READ MORE Give Your Garden an Edge With RESiLIENCE® July 3, 2019 Container Gardening, DIY Garden Projects, Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions, Vegetable & Edible Gardening Sun Gro® Horticulture is proud of its exclusive potting mix additive, RESiLIENCE®, our trade name... READ MORE The Dos and Don'ts of Hand Watering July 1, 2019 Container Gardening, Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Indoor, Maureen Gilmer, Outdoor, Vegetable & Edible Gardening, Vegetables Don't get water on plant leaves in hot, direct sunlight. The droplets can act... READ MORE Cool Gardens: Designing for Summer Temperature Control July 1, 2019 Container Gardening, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Jessie Keith, Landscape Solutions, Outdoor, Trees & Shrubs There are certain design and planting features that will greatly reduce summer heat in... READ MORE Petal Heads: Flowers to Grow for Colorful Dried Petals July 1, 2019 Container Gardening, DIY Garden Projects, Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Pollinator & Wildlife, Stephanie Rose Cornflower and pot marigold petals are some of the best and brightest for drying. Flowers... READ MORE Five Great Daylilies for Continuous Bloom June 5, 2019 Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions, Mike Darcy Rainbow Rhythm® Tiger Swirl is an extra pretty, large-flowered everbloomer. (Image care of Proven... READ MORE Pool Planting Tips from Hollywood's Heyday June 1, 2019 Container Gardening, Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions, Maureen Gilmer, Outdoor, Trees & Shrubs A Palm Springs mid-century modern was restored for climate change using artificial turf and... READ MORE DIY Potpourri From The Garden May 31, 2019 Carole Ottesen, DIY Garden Projects, Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions Potpourri is a mixture of aromatic plant parts that captures the essence of the... READ MORE Desert Gold Poppy: Create a Superbloom in Your Backyard May 2, 2019 Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions, Maureen Gilmer, Pollinator & Wildlife Desert poppies stay low on windy hilltops. In the wave of Superbloom in California, a... READ MORE Grow an Apothecary Garden: Flowers and Herbs for Healing April 30, 2019 DIY Garden Projects, Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Garden Writers, Herbs, Home Gardening Solutions, Organic Gardening, Stephanie Rose, Vegetable & Edible Gardening Apothecary or physic gardens contain medicinal plants used to treat all kinds of infirmities.... READ MORE 10 Essential Indian Herbs and Spices for Gardens April 30, 2019 Garden Writers, Herbs, Home Gardening Solutions, Jessie Keith, Organic Gardening, Vegetable & Edible Gardening Chiles, ginger, lemongrass, curry leaf, and other traditional herbs and spices can be grown... READ MORE California Wild Lilac for Western Gardens April 9, 2019 Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions, Mike Darcy, Trees & Shrubs Ceanothus thyrsiflorus is the most commonly cultivated species of California wild lilac. (Image by... READ MORE 12 Plants Deer Would Rather Not Eat April 1, 2019 Carole Ottesen, DIY Garden Projects, Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions, Trees & Shrubs While it is true that starving deer will eat just about anything, it is... READ MORE Garden Shrines: Dedicate Your Own Hallowed Ground April 1, 2019 DIY Garden Projects, Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions, Maureen Gilmer The pagans of Europe were the first to establish the notion of hallowed ground,... READ MORE The Cutest, Tastiest Miniature Vegetables April 1, 2019 Container Gardening, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Jessie Keith, Organic Gardening, Outdoor, Vegetable & Edible Gardening, Vegetables Miniature vegetables and fruits, such as tomato 'Patio Choice Yellow' are truly patio perfect.... READ MORE How to Grow Lavender from Seed March 14, 2019 DIY Garden Projects, Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Organic Gardening, Pollinator & Wildlife, Stephanie Rose Harvest and tie lavender bundles for drying. They dry best if hung in a... READ MORE DIY Seed Starting: Seed Packets (Part 1 of 6) March 13, 2019 DIY Garden Projects, Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Garden Writers, Herbs, Home Gardening Solutions, Maureen Gilmer, Organic Gardening, Vegetable & Edible Gardening, Vegetables Read the back of your seed packet to find details essential to successful germination. Starting... READ MORE DIY Seed Starting: Damping Off Prevention (Part 2 of 6): March 13, 2019 Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Garden Writers, Herbs, Home Gardening Solutions, Maureen Gilmer, Organic Gardening, Vegetable & Edible Gardening, Vegetables You wouldn't put your newborn child into dirty blankets for fear of dangerous germs... READ MORE DIY Seed Starting: Containers (Part 3 of 6) March 13, 2019 Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Garden Writers, Herbs, Home Gardening Solutions, Maureen Gilmer, Organic Gardening, Vegetable & Edible Gardening, Vegetables Gardeners that start seeds at home have lots of containers to choose from. You... READ MORE DIY Seed Starting: Proper Sowing (Part 4 of 6) March 13, 2019 DIY Garden Projects, Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Garden Writers, Herbs, Home Gardening Solutions, Maureen Gilmer, Organic Gardening, Vegetable & Edible Gardening, Vegetables The first step of any seed sowing project is to read the entire label... READ MORE DIY Seed Starting: Watering (Part 5 of 6) March 13, 2019 DIY Garden Projects, Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Garden Writers, Herbs, Home Gardening Solutions, Maureen Gilmer, Organic Gardening, Vegetable & Edible Gardening, Vegetables Every gardener has done it at least once. Watering newly sown pots too aggressively,... READ MORE DIY Seed Starting: Transplanting Seedlings (Part 6 of 6) March 13, 2019 DIY Garden Projects, Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Garden Writers, Herbs, Home Gardening Solutions, Maureen Gilmer, Organic Gardening, Vegetable & Edible Gardening, Vegetables Most seedlings will need to be transplanted as they grow. Larger containers and a... READ MORE The Best Garden Mulches and Decorative Covers March 10, 2019 Container Gardening, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Indoor, Jessie Keith, Landscape Solutions, Outdoor, Trees & Shrubs, Vegetable & Edible Gardening, Vegetables Garden stone is a longterm cover that must be applied correctly from the start. Mulches... READ MORE Western Riparian Trees for Wet Soils March 7, 2019 Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions, Mike Darcy, Trees & Shrubs Trees that naturally grow by waterways or riversides make good landscape trees for wet... READ MORE Transformative Grasses: Anchoring Gardens and Soils February 25, 2019 Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions, Maureen Gilmer This hardy fountain grass is in full summer bloom, releasing pollen in the breeze.... READ MORE Quasi Bonsai: Manageable Bonsai Beauty February 1, 2019 Container Gardening, DIY Garden Projects, Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Maureen Gilmer, Outdoor (Image by Maureen Gilmer) The price of neglecting to water your bonsai in midsummer even... READ MORE Managing the Worst House Plant Pests January 31, 2019 Container Gardening, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Indoor, Jessie Keith Growing house plants all together in a dense tangle encourages pests to spread and... READ MORE Days to Spring Countdown Clock January 30, 2019 Home Gardening Solutions Can't wait until spring? Keep tabs on the number of days until spring begins! READ MORE Grow a Natural Beauty Garden: Botanicals that Soothe Your Skin January 10, 2019 DIY Garden Projects, Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Garden Writers, Herbs, Home Gardening Solutions, Organic Gardening, Stephanie Rose, Vegetable & Edible Gardening We grow gardens for food, for medicine, for cut flowers, and for pollinators. But,... READ MORE Feeding Common Winter Songbirds Naturally January 4, 2019 Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions, Pollinator & Wildlife, Trees & Shrubs A flurry of wings. A shower of seeds. Bird feeders are lively places in... READ MORE Western Invasive Plants: Battling Ultimate Survivors January 3, 2019 Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions, Maureen Gilmer Star thistle is one of the worst of all western weeds. The empire of plants... READ MORE Dwarf Conifers for All-Season Beauty December 10, 2018 Container Gardening, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions, Mike Darcy, Outdoor, Trees & Shrubs A dwarf white spruce shows off its winter cones. Dwarf conifers are often overlooked as... READ MORE Tropical Rainbow House Plants November 27, 2018 Container Gardening, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Indoor, Jessie Keith, Outdoor, Uncategorized Why wait for flowering house plants to bloom for indoor color when you can... READ MORE Ponytail Palm: Beautiful Flesh Indoors or Out November 25, 2018 Container Gardening, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Indoor, Maureen Gilmer, Outdoor This ponytail palm at the San Diego Zoo demonstrates how graceful they become. Many believe... READ MORE The Best Fragrant House Plants November 6, 2018 Container Gardening, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Indoor, Mike Darcy Orange jasmine (Murraya paniculata) In the Pacific Northwest, where our winter days are often rainy... READ MORE Bottle Gourds: Growing Ancient History October 31, 2018 DIY Garden Projects, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Maureen Gilmer, Vegetable & Edible Gardening, Vegetables The calabash or bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria) has been valued worldwide since ancient times... READ MORE Jade Jewels: Remarkable Jade Plants for Connoisseurs October 29, 2018 Container Gardening, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Indoor, Jessie Keith Golden jade has remarkable sunset-hued leaves. (Image thanks to Mountain Crest Gardens) A mature, well-formed... READ MORE A Wind Garden in Mendocino October 1, 2018 Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions, Maureen Gilmer Over time, evergreen shrubs provide enough protection to add perennials to spaces around the... READ MORE Growing and Harvesting Edible Seeds September 14, 2018 DIY Garden Projects, Herbs, Vegetable & Edible Gardening Poppy seeds, dill seed, fennel seed, coriander, and caraway—it's like having the makings of... READ MORE Beautyberry for Bountiful Fall Color September 12, 2018 Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions, Mike Darcy, Trees & Shrubs Branches laden with bright purple berry clusters can be a very pleasant surprise to... READ MORE How and When to Plant Trees September 10, 2018 Home Gardening Solutions, Trees & Shrubs Plant trees in spring as soon as the soil warms. Springtime is tree planting time.... READ MORE Create a Succulent Seascape Rock Garden August 30, 2018 Container Gardening, DIY Garden Projects, Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Jessie Keith, Outdoor Well-chosen and placed succulents in picturesque rock gardens can have an underwater, seafloor appeal.... READ MORE Gravelscape and Green your Front Yard August 1, 2018 DIY Garden Projects, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions, Maureen Gilmer Gravel can make architectural plants stand out like sculpture. (Image by Maureen Gilmer) Nowhere are... READ MORE Create and Enjoy Community Garden Tours June 16, 2018 Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Vegetable & Edible Gardening Written by Nan Sterman I tend to divide the world into two kinds of people:... READ MORE Pruning Shrub Roses in Spring May 16, 2018 Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Mike Darcy, Trees & Shrubs Pruning shrub roses in spring...exactly what does it mean when a rose is called... READ MORE Flowering Trees with Edible Fruit May 11, 2018 Flowers, Fruits, Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions, Organic Gardening, Trees & Shrubs, Vegetable & Edible Gardening Edible crabapples are larger and great for canning. (Image by JMiall) Sometimes in our home... READ MORE The French Herb Garden April 2, 2018 DIY Garden Projects, Herbs, Home Gardening Solutions, Vegetable & Edible Gardening Some classic French herbs are common to American tables and gardens, while others are... READ MORE Fight Fires with Garden Flowers February 26, 2018 Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions, Maureen Gilmer Cistus 'Brilliancy' is a low-fuel-volume shrub with lovely magenta flowers. You can fight fires with... READ MORE Best Sauce Tomatoes for Home Gardeners January 26, 2018 Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Jessie Keith, Organic Gardening, Vegetable & Edible Gardening, Vegetables Serious sauce makers should plant at least eight tomatoes to generate ample tomato harvests.... READ MORE 12 Fragrant Winter Flowering Shrubs for Beauty and Bees January 18, 2018 Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Pam Beck, Pollinator & Wildlife, Trees & Shrubs Wintersweet (Chimonanthus praecox) has highly fragrant yellow flowers that bloom in late winter. Because of... READ MORE Making Space for Gardening: The Portland Community Garden Story January 8, 2018 Community, DIY Garden Projects, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Mike Darcy, Organic Gardening, Vegetable & Edible Gardening Gardeners in an Oregon community garden harvest late-season vegetables. (Image by Dawn Grunwald) Throughout the... READ MORE Seven Mediterranean Food Plants for the Dry Edible Garden January 3, 2018 Fruits, Home Gardening Solutions, Trees & Shrubs, Vegetable & Edible Gardening Pomegranates are common fruits for southern California. The dry edible garden is rooted in classical... READ MORE 10 Award-Winning Annuals to Grow from Seed December 31, 2017 DIY Garden Projects, Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Garden Writers, Jessie Keith Flats of garden flowers are costly, but you can grow a whole garden’s worth... READ MORE Western Native Evergreen Shrubs for Landscapes December 4, 2017 Fruits, Home Gardening Solutions, Organic Gardening, Trees & Shrubs, Vegetable & Edible Gardening Oregon grape berries in winter In recent years, I have noticed a substantial increase in... READ MORE Healing the Land after Fire: Post-Fire Planting November 29, 2017 Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions, Trees & Shrubs Wildfire is ubiquitous in the west but has spread to new areas due to... READ MORE Fire up the Landscape with Red Twig Dogwood November 27, 2017 Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions, Trees & Shrubs The bloodtwig dogwood 'Midwinter Fire' has some of the most brilliant branches for winter. Fiery... READ MORE The Herbal Tea Garden November 1, 2017 DIY Garden Projects, Fruits, Garden Writers, Herbs, Jessie Keith, Vegetable & Edible Gardening Garden fruits and herbs combine well to make delicious herbal tea. What’s in a cup... READ MORE Tough Garden Yuccas October 28, 2017 Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Garden Writers, Landscape Solutions, Maureen Gilmer, Pollinator & Wildlife Adam's needle (Yucca filamentosa) is an adaptable, bold landscape plant! "This flower was made for... READ MORE How to Grow Ginger Indoors October 27, 2017 Container Gardening, DIY Garden Projects, Garden Writers, Indoor, Jessie Keith, Vegetable & Edible Gardening Whether you cook something sweet or savory, fresh ginger (Zingiber officinale) has a traditional... READ MORE 4-Layer Easy Rock Garden Design October 2, 2017 Container Gardening, DIY Garden Projects, Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions, Outdoor Created on a slight incline, this beautiful western rock garden featuring aloes, cacti, and... READ MORE Growing and Storing Fall Carrots, Beets, and Turnips September 26, 2017 Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Jessie Keith, Vegetable & Edible Gardening, Vegetables Carrots can be grown and harvested into early winter. Root crops are the finest vegetables... READ MORE Growing Dwarf Apple Trees September 5, 2017 Fruits, Garden Writers, Mike Darcy, Trees & Shrubs, Vegetable & Edible Gardening Dwarf apple trees can fit into practically any sunny, small-space garden. Walking out on your... READ MORE Get an Edge on Porous Paving August 28, 2017 Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions, Maureen Gilmer Short, dense perennials are the ultimate edge plants to tidy up after repairs to... READ MORE Share the Fruits and Vegetables of Your Garden August 8, 2017 Fruits, Garden Writers, Herbs, Home Gardening Solutions, Mike Darcy, Vegetable & Edible Gardening, Vegetables Garden abundance offers an opportunity to share food with your community! This is the time... READ MORE Cultivate Beneficial Insects in the Garden July 26, 2017 Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions, Maureen Gilmer, Organic Gardening Ladybug adults and larvae (orange and black) waging war on black aphids! Your garden is... READ MORE Plant a Cactus Fruit Garden July 2, 2017 Fruits, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Maureen Gilmer, Organic Gardening, Vegetable & Edible Gardening Prickly pear fruits are tangy and often deep red. (Opuntia ficus-indica shown) Cactus fruits are... READ MORE Connect through Curbside Community Gardening June 5, 2017 Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions, Mike Darcy, Pollinator & Wildlife This street-side strip went from sad lawn to a glorious garden, and it inspired... READ MORE How to Transplant an Olive Tree June 2, 2017 Fruits, Home Gardening Solutions, Trees & Shrubs, Vegetable & Edible Gardening Fruiting olive trees make resilient landscape specimens for edible landscaping in the West. Olives (Olea... READ MORE Five Best Ways to Save Water in the Garden May 24, 2017 Black Gold® Waterhold Cocoblend Potting Soil, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Jessie Keith, Landscape Solutions, Organic Gardening Roof rainwater trickles into a classic garden rain barrel. Smart gardeners prepare for summer dry... READ MORE Generational Family Gardening with Kids May 9, 2017 DIY Garden Projects, Fruits, Garden Writers, Herbs, Mike Darcy, Organic Gardening, Vegetable & Edible Gardening, Vegetables New, budding gardeners learn how to grow vegetables organically. Gardening is best shared with multiple... READ MORE 5 Big, Beautiful Wildflowers for Dry Western Gardens April 26, 2017 Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Garden Writers, Maureen Gilmer, Pollinator & Wildlife, Trees & Shrubs This relative of hollyhock loves growing along the dry edges of cactus and succulent... READ MORE Top 10 Shade Garden Plants for the Pacific Northwest April 10, 2017 Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Garden Writers, Landscape Solutions, Mike Darcy It's hard for me to list a top 10 list for any category of plants,... READ MORE The Best Pomegranates for Home and Garden March 29, 2017 Fruits, Home Gardening Solutions, Organic Gardening, Trees & Shrubs, Vegetable & Edible Gardening ‘Wonderful’ is a popular orchard variety pomegranate that also grows well in home gardens. Since... READ MORE VLOG: Easy DIY Terrarium Garden for Low Light March 16, 2017 Home Gardening Solutions This 7 step, temple-themed terrarium is inexpensive (~$20), looks great, and is easy to... READ MORE Amazing Rhododendrons and Azaleas March 6, 2017 Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions, Mike Darcy, Trees & Shrubs Rhododendron 'Caractacus' (Waterer Hybrid) has many magenta clusters, or trusses, of flowers in spring.... READ MORE 8 Garden Fruits and Vegetables for Weight Loss and Health February 28, 2017 Fruits, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Jessie Keith, Organic Gardening, Vegetable & Edible Gardening, Vegetables 8 Garden Fruits and Vegetables for Weight Loss and Health All veggies are naturally low... READ MORE Growing Hardy Carnivorous Plants February 6, 2017 Container Gardening, DIY Garden Projects, Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Garden Writers, Mike Darcy, Outdoor This fanciful pot of pitcher plants shows the fun you can have with carnivorous... READ MORE The High-Protein Vegetable Garden: Beans and Grains February 1, 2017 Home Gardening Solutions, Organic Gardening, Vegetable & Edible Gardening, Vegetables Vegetarian and vegan lifestyles have popularized high-protein garden vegetables. Growing a good selection of... READ MORE Blueberries for Western and Southern Gardens January 31, 2017 Fruits, Home Gardening Solutions, Organic Gardening, Trees & Shrubs, Vegetable & Edible Gardening New, heat-tolerant blueberries should be enjoyed in more gardens south of the Mason Dixon... READ MORE Blooms in the Ice: The Joy of Late Winter Bulbs January 10, 2017 Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Garden Writers, Landscape Solutions, Mike Darcy Snowdrops break through the ice of a forest floor in February. Here in the Pacific... READ MORE Heirloom Vegetable Power: Why Old Seed is New Again December 30, 2016 Black Gold® Waterhold Cocoblend Potting Soil, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Maureen Gilmer, Organic Gardening, Vegetable & Edible Gardening A diverse collection of dried heirloom beans. Every seed has a story. When it comes... READ MORE Winter Garden Plants for Holiday Cheer December 13, 2016 Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Mike Darcy, Trees & Shrubs bodnantense Helleborus 'Cotton Candy' (Image thanks to Terra Nova Nurseries) In years past, Pacific Northwest... READ MORE DIY: Homemade Seeded Paper Garden Cards December 9, 2016 DIY Garden Projects, Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Jessie Keith Sunflower seed circle and herb garden seeded homemade cards are shown. We made gift... READ MORE Growing California Christmasberry November 30, 2016 Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions, Trees & Shrubs Large sprays of bright red berry-like fruits mature in time for holiday decorating. In my... READ MORE Planting a Barrel Cactus Safely November 11, 2016 DIY Garden Projects, Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions The ferocious spines of the golden barrel cactus make them very difficult to pot.... READ MORE Growing Lemons, Oranges, and Other Citrus Indoors November 11, 2016 Container Gardening, Fruits, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Indoor, Jessie Keith, Vegetable & Edible Gardening Mature Chinotto Sour Orange (Citrus x aurantium ‘Chinotto’) Fruits. (Image by Jessie Keith) From the... READ MORE Recipe: Authentic Pico de Gallo October 22, 2016 Home Gardening Solutions, Vegetable & Edible Gardening Feeling a little hot after harvesting your summer tomatoes and peppers? Why not make this spicy,... READ MORE Recipe: Fresh Herbed Cucumber Cocktails October 21, 2016 Home Gardening Solutions, Vegetable & Edible Gardening, Vegetables Nothing is more refreshing in summer than a delicious cocktail made with crisp cucumbers... READ MORE Recipe: Spicy Guacamole with Roasted Poblano Chiles October 20, 2016 Home Gardening Solutions, Vegetable & Edible Gardening, Vegetables Fresh guacamole tastes even better with the addition of roasted poblano chile peppers! Roasted poblano... READ MORE Recipe: Strawberry Kiwi Salsa October 20, 2016 Fruits, Home Gardening Solutions, Vegetable & Edible Gardening Fruit salsas are both sweet and savory. This spicy strawberry kiwi salsa tastes great over... READ MORE Recipe: Spend Less and Roast Your Own Sweet Peppers October 18, 2016 Home Gardening Solutions, Vegetable & Edible Gardening, Vegetables Roasted red peppers are delicious on salads and sandwiches, and but they are expensive to buy... READ MORE Recipe: Chicken Fajitas with Garden-Fresh Vegetables October 16, 2016 Home Gardening Solutions, Vegetable & Edible Gardening, Vegetables Fajitas may seem like they have lots of ingredients, but they are so easy... READ MORE Recipe: Easy Harvest Apple Bread October 14, 2016 Fruits, Home Gardening Solutions, Vegetable & Edible Gardening Home baking is a great way to combat chilly October days. Seasonal fall produce... READ MORE Mike Darcy's Favorite Fall Trees and Flowers October 11, 2016 Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Mike Darcy, Trees & Shrubs This Stewartia pseudocamellia is in fall color. The fall season is upon us and what... READ MORE Peat Moss: Nature's Gift to Gardeners October 10, 2016 Home Gardening Solutions, Organic Gardening Healthy soil is the key to vigorous garden plants and lawns. It is good insurance to... READ MORE Recipes: Holiday Favorites from Black Gold October 5, 2016 Home Gardening Solutions Making a simple gingerbread house is easy! This is the time of year to feel thankful... READ MORE Rehab Raised Beds Inside and Out September 29, 2016 Container Gardening, DIY Garden Projects, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions, Maureen Gilmer, Organic Gardening, Outdoor, Vegetable & Edible Gardening, Vegetables Raised-bed hoops and row covers can help you protect crops from harsh growing conditions... READ MORE Heirloom Vegetable Seed Saving September 28, 2016 DIY Garden Projects, Home Gardening Solutions, Vegetable & Edible Gardening, Vegetables These ripe heirloom vegetables contain seeds that are ready to harvest and store for... READ MORE Recipe: Secret Chocolate Chip Cookies (with Kale!) September 25, 2016 Home Gardening Solutions, Vegetable & Edible Gardening, Vegetables Whipping up desserts is inevitable when you have kids, so why not add unexpected... READ MORE BLACK GOLD® Garden Amendment Guide September 21, 2016 Home Gardening Solutions Black Gold® amendments cover everything from basic coir, to premium peat moss, compost, and... READ MORE Recipe: Grilled Spring Asparagus September 19, 2016 Home Gardening Solutions, Vegetable & Edible Gardening, Vegetables Asparagus is one of those foods that when barbecued needs little flavor enhancement because... READ MORE Recipe: Kid's Garden Fresh Pizza Creation Station September 14, 2016 Home Gardening Solutions, Vegetable & Edible Gardening, Vegetables Making pizza is a fun activity that kids enjoy. They love to create their... READ MORE Shrubs with Fall Color September 14, 2016 Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions, Trees & Shrubs This late-season Pacific Northwest landscape shows the bountiful blooms of a pink-flowered crape myrtle. In... READ MORE Late-Summer Vegetables to Grow From Seed Sowing August 23, 2016 Home Gardening Solutions, Vegetable & Edible Gardening, Vegetables Late-summer and fall vegetables grown from seed. It's absolutely counterintuitive to plant anything in August... READ MORE When in Drought, Choose Succulents August 23, 2016 Container Gardening, Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions, Outdoor Barrel cacti, agave, and echeverias are all bold succulents for droughty landscapes. Whenever there are... READ MORE Late-Summer Gardening in the Pacific Northwest August 15, 2016 Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Mike Darcy Fuchsia 'Dying Embers' has lovely deep purple flowers that draw hummingbirds. It seems as though... READ MORE Black Gold® Seedling Mix, A Professional Mix for Home Growers August 5, 2016 Home Gardening Solutions, Vegetable & Edible Gardening Black Gold® Seedling Mix is the perfect medium for germinating seeds and propagating cuttings,... READ MORE DIY: Make This Trickle-Down Succulent Tower August 2, 2016 Container Gardening, DIY Garden Projects, Home Gardening Solutions, Outdoor Donkey Tails (Senecio morganianum) in a vertical can cascade. This idea came from deep within... READ MORE Smart Summer Pruning and Deadheading August 2, 2016 DIY Garden Projects, Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Mike Darcy, Trees & Shrubs Removing the old, spent flowers from perennials, like this coneflower, will keep the plants... READ MORE Preparing the Garden for a Hot Summer June 14, 2016 DIY Garden Projects, Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions, Mike Darcy Here in the Pacific Northwest, we have had record high temperatures already this spring.... READ MORE Mulching Gardens With Black Gold Amendments June 13, 2016 Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions When the drought is long, soils are poor, and money is short, one way to... READ MORE Big, Bold, Tropical Foliage Plants May 15, 2016 Container Gardening, Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions, Outdoor Brilliant crotons and cascading Scaevola aemula 'Blue Fan' look striking in this container planting. Big,... READ MORE Spring Camellias and Rhododendron in the Pacific Northwest April 12, 2016 Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions, Mike Darcy, Trees & Shrubs "This is my favorite time of year", is a phrase that I seem to... READ MORE Raised Beds: Respecting the Law of Return March 7, 2016 Container Gardening, DIY Garden Projects, Garden Writers, Herbs, Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions, Maureen Gilmer, Organic Gardening, Outdoor, Vegetable & Edible Gardening, Vegetables To enrich a full raised bed, use low volume, high potency organic fertilizers before... READ MORE Preparing Broadleaf Evergreens for Drought February 17, 2016 Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions, Trees & Shrubs With good care and moisture, broadleaf evergreens with thrive even in the toughest drought... READ MORE Raising Agave Pups February 8, 2016 DIY Garden Projects, Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions This beautiful old mother agave has produced a bevy of pups around herself to... READ MORE Plants For the Winter Garden January 19, 2016 Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions, Trees & Shrubs The fragrant flowers of wintersweet can withstand even the harsh winter weather. In the Pacific... READ MORE Soil Matters to Lavender January 13, 2016 Container Gardening, Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Maureen Gilmer, Outdoor Distinguished by long thin wand-like flower stems, English lavender is the hardiest of them... READ MORE Holiday Decorating from the Garden December 10, 2015 Container Gardening, DIY Garden Projects, Home Gardening Solutions, Indoor, Outdoor While this may be winter (not official until December 22, but most gardeners would say... READ MORE Bottom Heat for Happy Heirloom Seed Starting December 8, 2015 DIY Garden Projects, Home Gardening Solutions The only way to have heirloom vegetables and flowers in your garden is to... READ MORE Winter Garden Plants for Wildlife November 29, 2015 Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Jessie Keith, Landscape Solutions, Organic Gardening, Pollinator & Wildlife, Trees & Shrubs Mockingbirds eat beauty berries as well as many other fruits of winter. The winter garden... READ MORE Native American Plants of the Pacific Northwest November 16, 2015 Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Fruits, Garden Writers, Mike Darcy, Pollinator & Wildlife, Trees & Shrubs Not only are the bulbs of Camassia quamash edible, the plants are beautiful and... READ MORE Kids Gardening Fun in Fall October 16, 2015 DIY Garden Projects, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Mike Darcy, Organic Gardening Kids love to learn about composting and the importance of worms in the garden. As... READ MORE Dealing With Pacific Northwest Drought September 16, 2015 Container Gardening, Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions, Mike Darcy, Outdoor, Trees & Shrubs Mike Darcy's garden in happier days. Here in the Pacific Northwest, we have had a... READ MORE Fun Fall Decorating with Pumpkins September 11, 2015 DIY Garden Projects, Fruits, Home Gardening Solutions, Vegetable & Edible Gardening This elaborate collection of pumpkins and gourds annually graces Lisa and Jeff Tice’s home... READ MORE Mounding Garden Beds For Succulents Out West September 2, 2015 DIY Garden Projects, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions, Maureen Gilmer These linear plantings of agave and cacti are aligned perpendicular to the slope to... READ MORE Spring Rhododendron and Rose Care July 13, 2015 Black Gold® Waterhold Cocoblend Potting Soil, DIY Garden Projects, Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Home Gardening Solutions, Trees & Shrubs Once Rhododendron flowers have died, remove them from the base to stop seed development. Spring... READ MORE Summer Annual Herbs for The South July 5, 2015 Garden Writers, Herbs, Home Gardening Solutions, Organic Gardening, Pam Beck, Vegetable & Edible Gardening Defining an herb can be so confusing. Botanists say if something is “herbaceous” it is... READ MORE Summer Vegetable Garden Nutrient Deficiencies July 2, 2015 Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions, Maureen Gilmer, Organic Gardening, Vegetable & Edible Gardening, Vegetables The yellowing of this formerly green pepper plant is a sign of nitrogen deficiency... READ MORE The Glorious June Garden June 7, 2015 Black Gold® Waterhold Cocoblend Potting Soil, Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Home Gardening Solutions, Trees & Shrubs The Portland Rose Society Rose Show is a late spring event that occurs yearly... READ MORE Tips for a Four-Season Garden May 10, 2015 Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions, Pam Beck, Trees & Shrubs A dramatic yucca blends beautifully with this summer perennial garden and becomes a featured... READ MORE Garden Soil Amendments and Mixes for Water Retention April 12, 2015 Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions, Mike Darcy Arm your garden! Amend beds for maximum water retention in preparation for dry summer... READ MORE Choice Flowering Crabapples March 16, 2015 Flowers, Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions, Trees & Shrubs Beautiful pink spring blooms, lovely red fruit, and outstanding fall color make 'Prairifire' a... READ MORE Designing Small Garden Spaces March 4, 2015 Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions Uniformly colored patio furniture that echos a garden's color theme is perfect for a... READ MORE Landscape Lessons from a Fremontia March 2, 2015 Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Home Gardening Solutions, Trees & Shrubs Different flannelbush species are endemic to different California climate zones, from the West Coast... READ MORE Winter Indoor Gardening with Mike Darcy February 18, 2015 Container Gardening, Home Gardening Solutions, Indoor We have a lot of orchids in our home that bloom throughout the year.... READ MORE Growing Tomatoes from Seed to Harvest February 5, 2015 DIY Garden Projects, Home Gardening Solutions, Organic Gardening, Vegetable & Edible Gardening, Vegetables Nothing is more gratifying than a big tomato harvest in summer! Homegrown summer tomatoes simply... READ MORE Which Winter Witch Hazel Should You Grow? January 20, 2015 Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions, Trees & Shrubs The coppery flowers of Hamamelis x intermedia 'Jelena' are very fragrant and pretty. (Image... READ MORE Repotting Houseplants January 19, 2015 Black Gold® Waterhold Cocoblend Potting Soil, Container Gardening, DIY Garden Projects, Garden Writers, Indoor, Pam Beck Before repotting, bathe smooth-leaved house plants in tepid water to help remove dirt or... READ MORE Winter Flowering Plants December 11, 2014 Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Home Gardening Solutions, Trees & Shrubs Viburnum x bodnantense 'Dawn' adds delightful fragrance and color to the winter garden. (photo... READ MORE Holistic, Healing Gardening November 13, 2014 Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Home Gardening Solutions, Trees & Shrubs Anna’s hummingbird feeding on Salvia ‘Amistad’. (Photo by Doug Barragar) For those of you that... READ MORE Traditional Fall Harvest Pies with a Twist November 12, 2014 DIY Garden Projects, Fruits, Home Gardening Solutions Savory tomato pie is a perfect side for dinner or addition to a holiday... READ MORE Bewitching Black Garden Plants October 6, 2014 Container Gardening, Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Jessie Keith, Outdoor When it comes to showstopping flowers and foliage the high-performing Dahlia 'Yellow Hammer' is... READ MORE When To Fertilize Your Plants September 29, 2014 DIY Garden Projects, Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions Feeding fall beds is important. This fall garden of Supertunia Royal Magenta, Salvia leucantha... READ MORE Tips to Make Flower Gardening Easier September 17, 2014 Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Home Gardening Solutions, Trees & Shrubs Staking dahlias at planting time will support plants all season and keep the tuberous... READ MORE Raised Bed Rotation and Rejuvination September 10, 2014 DIY Garden Projects, Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions, Organic Gardening, Vegetable & Edible Gardening, Vegetables All raised beds require crop rotation and soil replenishment to avoid the accumulation of... READ MORE Easy, Garden-Fresh Summer Salsa August 19, 2014 DIY Garden Projects, Home Gardening Solutions, Vegetables A mix of peppers, both hot and sweet, is recommended for really good homemade... READ MORE Reviving Late-Summer Flowers August 18, 2014 Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Home Gardening Solutions, Trees & Shrubs Despite the high heat here in the Pacific Northwest, the roses have done well.... READ MORE "Weed" is a Four-Letter Word July 17, 2014 DIY Garden Projects, Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions Reusing cardboard can add new life to the garden, if properly applied. Ever notice how... READ MORE Maintaining Soil Health for Plant Health July 17, 2014 Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions The more you can do to make plants healthy and avoid stressful conditions, the... READ MORE Extending the Vegetable Harvest in the Southwest July 7, 2014 Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Maureen Gilmer, Organic Gardening, Vegetable & Edible Gardening, Vegetables Scorching summer heat slows or halts tomato flowering and fruit production in the American... READ MORE Growing Strawberries with Success June 16, 2014 Fruits, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Jessie Keith, Organic Gardening, Vegetable & Edible Gardening Sometimes old-time gardening advice is the best advice. When I searched for the most... READ MORE Big, Bold, Beautiful Blooms May 16, 2014 Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Home Gardening Solutions, Pollinator & Wildlife, Trees & Shrubs The quintessential, evergreen Southern magnolia can have flowers reaching 12” across. Is there a stronger... READ MORE School Garden Power! May 12, 2014 DIY Garden Projects, Home Gardening Solutions, Vegetable & Edible Gardening, Vegetables Gardens are powerful teaching tools that feed kids in more ways than one. They... READ MORE Hip, Sustainable Rugosa Roses May 5, 2014 Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Fruits, Home Gardening Solutions, Trees & Shrubs, Vegetable & Edible Gardening Wild rugosa roses typically have showy, single, pink flowers that stand bright against disease... READ MORE Spring Garden Soil Amendment April 17, 2014 Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions Amendments help garden and container plants perform better all season. In a perfect world, we... READ MORE Feed Your Soil Microbes April 1, 2014 Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions Till amendments in deeply to increase the depths of the organic layer where most... READ MORE When is an Azalea a Rhododendron? March 12, 2014 Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions, Trees & Shrubs The tube-shaped, golden-orange flowers of the Florida azalea (Rhododendron austrinum) show the warmer side... READ MORE Mulching for Water Conservation March 4, 2014 Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions Make roses more drought resistant by mulching well, but keep mulch clear of the... READ MORE Gravel Gardens February 13, 2014 Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions This gravel garden is creative and bright! Succulent gardening can break beyond the traditional rock... READ MORE Planting Bare Root Fruit Trees January 10, 2014 Fruits, Home Gardening Solutions, Trees & Shrubs, Vegetable & Edible Gardening Well-planted and maintained bare-root fruit trees will produce good fruit on a couple of... READ MORE Forever Jolly Winter Hollies December 10, 2013 Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions, Trees & Shrubs Berried holly branches are a ubiquitous holiday symbol, but these festive trees and shrubs... READ MORE Trees and Shrubs for Fall and Winter Color November 20, 2013 Container Gardening, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Mike Darcy, Outdoor, Trees & Shrubs Oxydendrum arboreum (sourwood) is often overlooked but deserves to be seen in more gardens.... READ MORE Brugmansia, Burning Bush, Bulbs and Cleome in the Fall Garden October 21, 2013 Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Home Gardening Solutions, Trees & Shrubs Burning bush is truly fiery in fall, but be sure it is not an... READ MORE Thyme Lawns October 7, 2013 Herbs, Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions, Vegetable & Edible Gardening Vita Sackville-West's twin time lawns are shown in the foreground of the beautiful landscape... READ MORE Growing Fall Greens September 23, 2013 Home Gardening Solutions, Vegetable & Edible Gardening, Vegetables Rows of the pretty kale Brassica oleracea 'Lacinato' are lined up for fall growing. “Eat... READ MORE Fall Flowers: Crape Myrtle, Dahlias, Salvia & Lespedeza September 23, 2013 Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Home Gardening Solutions, Pollinator & Wildlife, Trees & Shrubs Bountiful fall dahlias shine in the cool weather. What a glorious time of year! Summer... READ MORE Late Season Succulents, Inside or Out August 5, 2013 Container Gardening, DIY Garden Projects, Home Gardening Solutions, Indoor, Outdoor Gorgeous purple hued Echeverias and mint green Sempervivums in a shallow wide pot make... READ MORE Summer Hydrangeas in the Garden and More July 20, 2013 Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Home Gardening Solutions, Trees & Shrubs The brilliant white flowers of Snow Queen oakleaf hydrangea will brighten any summer garden,... READ MORE Craig LeHoullier's (aka NC Tomato Man's) Top Six Heirloom Tomatoes July 17, 2013 Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Organic Gardening, Pam Beck, Vegetable & Edible Gardening, Vegetables Heirloom tomatoes are always popular at the North Carolina State Farmer's Market in Raleigh. I... READ MORE Tried-and-True Early Summer Flowers June 12, 2013 Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Home Gardening Solutions, Trees & Shrubs Hartlage Wine sweetshrub of one of several resilient early summer bloomers in Mike's garden. Unseasonably... READ MORE Pacific Northwest Spring Plant Picks April 17, 2013 Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Home Gardening Solutions, Trees & Shrubs Rhododendron ‘Sir Charles Lemon’ is a striking spring beauty with trusses of white flowers... READ MORE A Guide to Edible Flowers April 12, 2013 DIY Garden Projects, Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Herbs, Home Gardening Solutions, Vegetable & Edible Gardening A bumblebee pollinates the edible flowers of borage. Well-placed culinary blooms are surprisingly delicious and... READ MORE Repurpose Your Fountain for Vertical Gardening March 11, 2013 Container Gardening, DIY Garden Projects, Home Gardening Solutions, Outdoor Are you tired of constantly filling your fountain all summer long? Is the submerged... READ MORE Create a Natural Prairie Garden By Repurposing Old Lawn Soils February 6, 2013 Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions The first settlers of the American prairie could not farm the land. First they... READ MORE Evergreens in the Garden December 13, 2012 Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions, Trees & Shrubs Quite often when we think of evergreen plants or use the word ‘conifer’, we... READ MORE Celebrating with Spiral Topiaries December 6, 2012 Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions, Trees & Shrubs Double spirals are rare but obtainable from any garden center that carries Monrovia plants. Nothing... READ MORE Starting Perfect Homegrown Plants from Seed December 4, 2012 DIY Garden Projects, Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Herbs, Home Gardening Solutions, Vegetable & Edible Gardening, Vegetables Those new to indoor seed growing should start with annuals such as zinnias, cosmos,... READ MORE Tips For Winterizing Plants November 16, 2012 DIY Garden Projects, Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions It can be a bit difficult to shift gears and start thinking about winterizing... READ MORE Western Native Plants for Home Gardens October 8, 2012 Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Home Gardening Solutions, Trees & Shrubs Whenever I hear someone speak of native plants for home gardens, it always makes me... READ MORE Growing Coast Redwood In Wet Years and Drought October 8, 2012 Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions, Trees & Shrubs Redwoods: These nursery grown redwood trees are thriving in a backyard where the ground... READ MORE Growing Common Figs in the Garden October 7, 2012 Container Gardening, Fruits, Outdoor, Trees & Shrubs, Vegetable & Edible Gardening Figs may ripen to green, maroon, or brown, depending on the variety. Figs (Ficus carica)... READ MORE A Guide to Black Gold Back Labels October 3, 2012 Home Gardening Solutions Education is when you read the fine print, experience is what you get when... READ MORE Flowering Plants for Great Fall Color September 4, 2012 Container Gardening, Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Home Gardening Solutions, Outdoor, Trees & Shrubs From mid-September through October, here in the Pacific Northwest, we have an abundance of... READ MORE Colorful Foliage Plants for Elegant Autumn Designs September 4, 2012 Flowers, Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions Coleus: Use annual coleus for incredible color and variegation in fall compositions. Shield: My favorite,... READ MORE Japanese Maples for Southeastern Gardens September 4, 2012 Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions, Trees & Shrubs Maple Leaf Varieties - Japanese Maples You’ve seen them exquisitely depicted in the finest gardening... READ MORE Late-Summer Annual Foliage Color September 2, 2012 Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions Here it is, mid-September and in the Pacific Northwest, and the weather has been... READ MORE Feeding the Late Summer Garden August 14, 2012 Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Mike Darcy, Organic Gardening Now that the spring season is over and we are already into August, I... READ MORE Fight Chlorosis with Earthworm Castings Tea August 12, 2012 DIY Garden Projects, Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Maureen Gilmer, Organic Gardening, Vegetable & Edible Gardening, Vegetables The foliage of this squash plant shows varying degrees of chlorosis compared to a... READ MORE Golden Spirit Smoke Tree for Container Gardening August 2, 2012 Container Gardening, Garden Writers, Mike Darcy, Outdoor, Trees & Shrubs Sometimes a plant that we think of as growing to 15 feet in height... READ MORE Identifying and Beating Tomato Late Blight August 2, 2012 Home Gardening Solutions, Organic Gardening, Vegetable & Edible Gardening, Vegetables LEFT: 'Striped Roman' tomato with tomato late blight on fruit and foliage. RIGHT: Tomato... READ MORE Garden Mulch To Reduce Summer Watering July 20, 2012 Home Gardening Solutions, Landscape Solutions July in my garden means lots of color, and flowers that attract hummingbirds are... READ MORE Earthworm Castings, Organic Fertilizer from Humble Earthworms July 2, 2012 Home Gardening Solutions Earthworms are tiny, but they make a tremendous impact on your garden. Earthworms are the... READ MORE Sowing Cut Flowers For Fall July 2, 2012 DIY Garden Projects, Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Home Gardening Solutions Think it’s too late to sow easy cut flowers for fall? It’s not. Fast... READ MORE Water for Birds in the Garden July 2, 2012 Home Gardening Solutions With summer here and many parts of the Pacific Northwest having warm days and... READ MORE Begin Saving On A Rainy Day By Installing Rain Barrels July 2, 2012 Home Gardening Solutions A well-placed rain barrel offers a practical solution for water catchment. Photo courtesy of... READ MORE Halting Tomato Hornworms with Bacillus thuringiensis July 2, 2012 Home Gardening Solutions, Organic Gardening, Vegetable & Edible Gardening, Vegetables Hornworm Caterpillar Tomato hornworms arrive at night as gossamer-winged moths that lay their eggs on... READ MORE Double Digging for Flawless Root Crops July 2, 2012 DIY Garden Projects, Home Gardening Solutions, Vegetable & Edible Gardening, Vegetables Root crops such as 'Lunar White' carrots will be long, straight, and easy to... READ MORE A History of Growing Roses June 7, 2012 Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Home Gardening Solutions, Trees & Shrubs Spring Rose Foliage Color - Photo by Rich Baer June is the month when, in... READ MORE Fertilize Organically for more Floriferous Roses June 6, 2012 Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Home Gardening Solutions, Trees & Shrubs Climbing roses need nitrogen to stimulate formation of strong new canes to train over... READ MORE In the Dog Days of Summer Keep your Pets Hydrated June 2, 2012 Home Gardening Solutions A quick dip in a pool is one sure way to beat the heat. It... READ MORE Garden Art: Pottery People June 2, 2012 Home Gardening Solutions As I visit other gardens this summer, I am, of course, interested to see... READ MORE Let Your Kids Play in the Dirt (It’s Healthy!) June 2, 2012 Home Gardening Solutions Getting dirty is part of the garden fun! Soil, potting medium or compost, as long... READ MORE Hazelnut Shells as Garden Pathways June 2, 2012 Home Gardening Solutions This past week, I have been spreading hazelnut shells on the pathways in my... READ MORE Cut Bedding Plant Costs with Cuttings June 2, 2012 DIY Garden Projects, Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Home Gardening Solutions Plant cuttings can turn one plant into five in just two weeks. And some... READ MORE Water Features in the Garden June 2, 2012 Home Gardening Solutions Memorial Day is the traditional weekend for me to clean the water features in... READ MORE Grow Gourds! June 2, 2012 Home Gardening Solutions, Vegetable & Edible Gardening, Vegetables Learning to grow gourds is fun! Nothing beats beautiful, heat-tolerant, hard-skinned gourds (Lagenaria siceraria)... READ MORE Corn Pollination May 18, 2012 Home Gardening Solutions Ears form down lower on the stalk where they're ready to receive a "rain"... READ MORE Summer Vegetable Seeds and Seedlings May 18, 2012 DIY Garden Projects, Vegetable & Edible Gardening, Vegetables A healthy summer garden starts with vigorous plants. Whether you are planting summer vegetable seeds... READ MORE Hartlage Wine: An Easy-to-Grow Deciduous Shrub May 2, 2012 Home Gardening Solutions Calycanthus raulstonii ‘Hartlage Wine’ We don’t have many flowering shrubs with flowers quite like the... READ MORE Lacewings May 2, 2012 Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Mike Darcy, Organic Gardening When I am carefully looking at the plants in my garden, I often marvel... READ MORE Rediscovering Old Roses May 2, 2012 Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Home Gardening Solutions, Trees & Shrubs The captivating ‘New Dawn’ climbing rose was discovered in 1930, and quickly became a... READ MORE Starting Seeds Indoors or Out April 14, 2012 Home Gardening Solutions, Organic Gardening, Vegetable & Edible Gardening, Vegetables Sprouting Seedlings (Photo by Rich Baer) Early spring is the time to begin thinking about... READ MORE Soil Preparation and Bed Protection April 12, 2012 Home Gardening Solutions In previous articles, I have mentioned the importance of soil preparation before setting out... READ MORE Colorful Flowers for Shade Gardens April 11, 2012 Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Home Gardening Solutions, Pollinator & Wildlife, Trees & Shrubs Columbine grow well in full sun to partial shade. (Image by Jessie Keith) The bright... READ MORE Grow Strawberries: Make Your Kids Berry Happy April 2, 2012 DIY Garden Projects, Fruits, Vegetable & Edible Gardening The author’s daughter, Franziska, planting ever-bearing ‘Alexandria’ and ‘Temptation’ strawberries. Strawberries have a simple beauty... READ MORE Give Roots Incentive to Grow Downward April 2, 2012 Home Gardening Solutions Planting fruit trees, grape vines or blueberry shrubs? To make sure yours are really... READ MORE Rhododendron Yaku Angel April 2, 2012 Home Gardening Solutions, Trees & Shrubs Living in the Pacific Northwest, we have an abundance of rhododendrons to provide spring... READ MORE Start Spreading the News: Recycle Newspaper In the Garden April 2, 2012 Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Organic Gardening, Pam Beck Preferred newsprint for your garden will have used nontoxic soy-based ink. Layering yesterday’s news onto... READ MORE Preparing the Soil Before Transplanting Seedlings April 2, 2012 Home Gardening Solutions One of the most important tasks of getting the garden ready for transplanting seedlings... READ MORE How to Grow Edible Herbs March 16, 2012 Home Gardening Solutions Lavender is a great herb that also looks beautiful in flower borders. (Image by... READ MORE Start Vegetable Seeds Indoors Early March 12, 2012 Flower & Pollinator Gardening, Flowers, Garden Writers, Herbs, Home Gardening Solutions, Maureen Gilmer, Organic Gardening, Vegetable & Edible Gardening, Vegetables Inner-city kids from Head Start programs perform at much higher levels of literacy and... READ MORE Avoiding A Spring Cold By Measuring Soil Temperature March 2, 2012 Garden Writers, Home Gardening Solutions, Pam Beck Your soil’s temperature will be more accurate when taken by a professional. Eager gardeners often...