I'm a big fan of saving old and chereished trees at all costs. I'm also big on incorporating older trees into a landscape design. Attached is a link to an "ASK MARTHA" column by Martha Stewart in which she writes about her love affair with trees -- Something I can relate to. She discusses picking [...]
A flower we need to share with everyone today is great for any sunny garden and areas with well-drained soil -- 'Big Blue' Sea Holly. It's drought and deer resistant, and grow as tall as three feet. Rabbits have appeared in much larger numbers this year in many of the Northern Virginia neighborhoods closer to [...]
Plant and Grow Now -- Vines, Veggies and Herbs Martha Stewart was on the Today show this morning talking about herbs. She pronounces the "H". Here's a link via hulu. You'll have to suffer through a 30 second commercial. Martha's segment has inpired to do today's post on what you can plant and grow right now -- Veggies, Herbs [...]
It's important not to get caught up in thinking an organic garden is out of your reach. Some very inexpensive and simple steps will have you on your way. Remember, an organic garden is a garden that is cared for with a more natural approach without the assistance of chemicals and pesticides. Companion plants area a great way to repel pests. Plant tomatoes near cabbage -- the pests that love [...]
There are so many advantages to using recycled materials when creating a stone/hardscape garden project. For the environment and your wallet! We use recycled materials, such as concrete for paving systems, recycled glass in stepping stones, and crushed recycled stone and granite for patio surfaces whenever possible. It's a great "green" step to take while creating your special garden space. An added benefit [...]
I work often in the clay heavy soil of Northern Virginia, which means I have the opportunity to share some of the most beautiful clay soil survivors, with blooms that will take your breath away. Blue Cornflower, a Kennedy favorite, and more are guaranteed to take your breath away. Below are some suggestions for those with clay-heavy soil, beginning [...]
How Thirsty Are Your Plants? A look back. Author and gardener Pamela Crawford is profiled by Steve Bender in the April 2010 issue of Southern Living. Pamela is an expert on growing beautiful flowers while saving water, money and time. In the profile, Pamela provides Southern Living readers with a ranking of nine popular plants according to their water needs [...]
One of my all time favorites, and a recent top choice by GardenWise as a "must-have" Fall 2013 garden favorite, is Toad Lily (Tricyrtis.) As I earlier wrote, Toad Lily, with its beautiful orchid-like white flowers, purple flecks and graceful arching growth habit, compels anyone who gazes upon it to stop and take a closer look. Better Homes & Gardens lists Toad [...]
Fill your Garden with Sweet Scents and Blooms Rosa 'America'! Add interest to pergolas, arbors, walls, and other garden structures with this award-winning climbing rose, ‘America’, which features strongly scented coral-pink blooms all summer long. It's disease resistant, so you can count on it to look good throughout and to the very end of the season.
Growing vegetables (and herbs) in pots or containers can be the ideal solution for those with limited space. However, containers can be a great idea for everyone, including those with an abundance of in-ground garden space. There's so much flexibility in growing veggies in pots! You can move them around to capture the sunlight, or hide them in the shade when it gets too warm. A [...]
