Knowledge and resources about plants and planting are so vast they can be overwhelming. The best approach is to take advantage of information based on your areas of interest and then seek the guidance of a plant professional. Your local nursery or garden center has inspired people ready to offer advice.
Even though it is still cold and damp, we will soon start having a sunny day or two to remind us that it will be time to Come Alive Outside. That means it’s time to start planning and preparing how you want your landscape to look come springtime.
Are you looking for the secret to happy houseplants? With the days getting colder, now is the time to create an indoor oasis ahead of winter’s lack of green and growing things.
Planting perennials, shrubs and vines with pollinators in mind is a win-win situation. Plants provide pollen and nectar that bees, butterflies and hummingbirds need for survival.
Winter is a great time to see the architecture of trees and bushes without the leaves. When temps are above freezing as the ice and snow melts, look for crossing branches and dead, diseased, or damaged wood.
A few warm days and we get spring fever! It’s still too early in the season for clearing yard and garden debris. Why? For starters, we may have more snow and bitter cold before the last frost date, which is usually around May 15.
The landscape around your home can be one of the best places for birdwatching when you garden with plants that let birds know they’ve found a home. Plants provide food, such as nectar for hummers and seeds and berries for songbirds, but they also provide nesting sites and shelter so birds feel safe enough to stick around.
It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3…Here’s a garden design that will attract Monarch butterflies and it only uses three perennials groupings. It’s pretty, too!
The Ruby-throated hummingbird is the only hummingbird that visits our area. Hummers start to arrive in our area around May 1. One tip for attracting hummingbirds is to offer a sugar water mixture during hot, dry weather that is one-quarter cup of sugar per cup of water.
Have you been seeing bees and other pollinators around your flowering plants? Though pollinators may seem like pests that are bothering your flowers and buzzing around your outdoor living space, they are essential to the health of your plants, and for your health as well.
Butterfly gardens provide food and sanctuary for many vibrant species of Lepidoptera. This type of garden can be planted in even the busiest urban location. Offering even a small habitat can help support the butterfly population in your area.
