Latest Gardening News
The problem with leaf blowers, and what you can do instead
When I was a kid, I used to help my mother clear leaves the old-fashioned way — with a rake. These days, I don’t see many rakes in my neighborhood. It seems everyone has a leaf blower or a landscaper who uses one, often at ungodly hours, which disrupts humans as well as...
'Foodscaping' slips vegetables in among the flowers for visual appeal in the garden
I recently started my seeds – tomatoes, cucuzza squash, climbing zucchini, golden beets, Florida cranberries, nasturtiums, zinnias, edelweiss, various herbs and Roma beans. They barely fit on my kitchen counter, which becomes a transient nursery every spring. Come planting time,...
The garden's waking up again. Spring chores to tackle first
As trees, shrubs, perennials and insects enter a new phase of life in our gardens, we, too, emerge from a type of dormancy in spring, a pause from yard work. Well, buckle up, buttercups. It’s showtime. First, inspect and assess the garden for safety. Have any tree...
How to care for a potted lily and other gift plants
If you celebrated Easter last weekend, you might be reading this beside a cellophane- or foil-covered pot of lilies, hydrangeas, hyacinths or daffodils. Typically, spring gift plants like these are enjoyed until their flowers fade, and then are thrown away like stale Peeps. But, if...
Not all vegetables are annuals. Here are some that come back year after year
Most vegetables grown in home gardens are annuals. They wither and die at the end of the season and need to be replanted every year to reap more crops. But if you’re short on time or money, don’t want to be bothered with yearly planting or want to try something new, I’ve got...
Just-introduced annuals and perennials add something new to the garden
It's a special kind of joy that only a gardener could understand. I always get an extra spring in my step when nurseries begin stocking the year’s new plant introductions. 2024 brings new annuals and perennials that will make any plant lover bloom from ear to ear. These are some...
It's not what St. Patrick used, but today's three-leaved shamrock can make a nice houseplant
St. Patrick is believed to have used a three-leaf clover to explain the complexity of the Trinity to nonbelievers in 5th century Ireland. Ever since, the shamrock has been revered by the Irish and held as a symbol of good luck. The word shamrock is derived from the Celtic word...
For Women's History Month, a look at some trailblazers in American gardening and horticulture
Women have long been at the forefront of gardening, whether passing agricultural traditions from generation to generation, organizing garden clubs and beautification societies, or — in some cases — making significant contributions to science and landscape design. Some of these...
Tunisian authorities investigate a fire at a synagogue, question a suspect in custody
TUNIS, Tunisia (AP) — A man believed to have started a fire in a garden at a synagogue in the east of Tunisia is in custody and under investigation for targeting a Jewish house of worship, officials said Saturday. Hichem ben Ayad, the public prosecutor in the eastern port city of...
New varieties of tried-and-true vegetables invite gardeners to experiment
Tomatoes, garlic, chives, basil, parsley, thyme and sage have been permanent residents in my garden for ages. But every year, I experiment with new -– or new to me -- crops. Many turn out to be transient, like the Instagram-worthy Voyager tomatoes that disappointed in the flavor...
