Information and Disinformation: How Carrots Helped Win World War II
Today, in honour of Remembrance Day (Commonwealth countries) and Veteran’s Day (US), here’s a guest blog by Joanne Reed aboutContinue Reading
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.
Lichens: More Complex Than Anyone Imagined
Lichens: so small, yet so complex! Photo: www.scienceminusdetails.com Lichens are composite organisms often found growing on rocks and trees. SomeContinue Reading
Garden Myth: You Can Tell the Sex of Peppers by the Number of Lobes
Peppers don’t really have a sex, in spite of a persistant myth that claims the contrary. Photo: www.amazon.com Question: My grocerContinue Reading
An Evergreen Hedge for Shade and Cold?
A yew hedge (Taxus × media ‘Hicksii’) is perfect for both sun and shade. Photo: sublimegardendesign.com Question: I currently have a cedar hedgeContinue Reading
Where Do Seedless Grapes Come From?
‘Somerset’ is a popular hardy seedless grape for home gardens. Photo: Gurney’s Question: I’m not much of a gardener, but I’veContinue Reading
Why Does My Christmas Cactus Bloom Too Early?
Christmas cactus? No, it’s actually a Thanksgiving cactus. Photo: Peter coxhead, Wikimedia Commons As I write this in early November,Continue Reading
My Favorite Weed: Common Mullein
Common mullein (Verbascum thapsus). Photo: Larry Allain, U.S. Geological Survey They say one person’s weed is another person’s wildflower …Continue Reading
When Daffodil Leaves Sprout in the Fall
Fall sprouting daffodil leaves. Photo: www.pennlive.com Occasionally, the leaves of certain daffodils or narcissus (Narcissus spp.) start to grow in theContinue Reading
Can You Compost Black Walnut Leaves?
Black walnut leaves (Juglans nigra). Photo: Lucid, flickr Black walnut (Juglans nigra) and, to a lesser extent, other walnuts (Juglans spp.),Continue Reading
Calathea: November 2019 Houseplant of the Month
The genus Calathea is characterized by the fabulous markings on the leaves and the rich choice of leaf shapes, from round andContinue Reading