2020 Trends Report
A special report from Garden Media Group
Author: Larry Hodgson
Garden writer and blogger, author of 65 gardening books, lecturer and communicator, the Laidback Gardener, Larry Hodgson, passed away in October 2022. Known for his great generosity, his thoroughness and his sense of humor, he reached several generations of amateur and professional gardeners over his 40-year career.
Thanks to his son, Mathieu Hodgson, and a team of contributors, laidbackgardener.blog will continue its mission of demystifying gardening and making it more accessible to all.
The Crime-Solving Powers of Pollen
Ill.: www.pngfind.com, www.hiclipart.com & Pixy.org Shades of CSI! Did you know that plant pollen is slowly becoming a basic tool in crime investigation?Continue Reading
Why Having Flowers in our Home is so Important
From a press release by iBulb.com Your home deserves flowers. And not just because they make us feel at home, butContinue Reading
The Little Grass That Could
Pennsylvania sedge (Carex pensylvanica): the ultimate lawn grass for shade? Photo: mgnv.org Are you looking for a low-growing grass forContinue Reading
Can You Grow a Croton From a Single Leaf?
Yes, you can root a croton leaf … but it will never produce a plant. Photo: Gardening Upbeat, YouTube Question: IContinue Reading
Citrus: A Confusion of Names
Just a sample of the wide variety of citrus fruits. Photo: Bernhard Voß, Wikimedia Commons Collective nouns are names forContinue Reading
The Story Behind Christmas Holly
Common holly (Ilex aquifolium). Photo: theoriginalgarden.com Common holly (llex aquifolium) has a long history of use as a Christmas symbol.Continue Reading
The Oak and the Fir Tree: A Christmas Legend
Boniface felling the Donar Oak. Ill.: Heinrich Maria von Hess (1834) There are many stories of how the fir treeContinue Reading
Basic Botany: Xylem and Phloem
Ill.: www.tes.com I first learned about xylem and phloem back in school … a half-century ago! So, I’m due forContinue Reading
Easy Watering for Christmas Trees
Photo: www.thisisourbliss.com & amazon.com Are you finding it awkward slipping a watering can under all the presents and branches toContinue Reading