When an Iris Blooms in Fall
This seems to have been a special fall for bearded irises in Northeastern North America. Several readers have written overContinue Reading
Latest Posts
Make Life Easy: Choose a Shrub that Fits Your Space
Why prune again and again to keep a shrub in check? It’s so much easier to simply choose a shrub that willContinue Reading
Why I Don’t Grow Gardenias
No, I don’t grow gardenias (Gardenia jasminoides, syn. G. augusta et G. grandiflora), sometimes called crape jasmine or cape jessamine.Continue Reading
Sun, Partial Shade or Shade?
Most horticultural experts try to explain the degree of sun or shade of a garden location by the number of hours ofContinue Reading
What Bees See
A garden filled with beautiful flowers always attracts our attention, but stunning flowers didn’t evolve to attract human eyes. TheContinue Reading
Rose Hips: Think Before You Eat!
Rose berries, called rose hips or just hips, are very attractive in the fall. Most turn bright red, although someContinue Reading
Garden Myth: Pine Needles Acidify the Soil
There is a very common and persistent garden myth that pine needles (and other conifer needles) acidify the soil andContinue Reading
Don’t Cut Back Ornamental Grasses in Fall
Many gardeners like to “clean up” their gardens in the fall (read Are You an Excessive Gardener or a Laid-backContinue Reading
Should You Compost Diseased Leaves?
Composting fall leaves with disease symptoms (maple tar spot, powdery mildew, apple scab, etc.) is a very controversial subject. EvenContinue Reading
Why Is It We Plant Spring Bulbs in the Fall?
Have you ever wondered why we plant spring-flowering bulbs in the fall? We’ve been doing this for so many generationsContinue Reading