Here's to Rose of Sharon

I first noticed the hardy shrub called rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) while traveling one midsummer across the southern plains. I saw it over and over again, blooming bravely in dooryard gardens despite the sizzling heat

Gardening for Butterflies

Gardening for butterflies is a suspenseful art, a bit like holding a picnic and wondering if your invited guests will show up. It's because butterflies are choosy insects. Any

Squash Bug

Squash bugs are found throughout the United States. Adult bugs are flat-backed, brown, about 1/2 inch long; the immature nymphs are shaped like adults but are whitish with black legs.

Edible Landscaping - How to: Start an Edible Garden with Your Child

One of the joys of having an edible landscape and edible gardens is to share them with your children and grand children. When experienced gardeners look back at how and when they got started gardening, it often involved a parent, aunt, uncle, or grandparent taking them under their wing in the garden.

Gardening with Butterflies in Mind

Gardening for butterflies is a suspenseful art, a bit like holding a picnic and wondering if your invited guests will show up. It's because butterflies are choosy insects. Any gardener can have aphids, but red admirals, painted ladies and tiger swallowtails insist upon certain amenities, such as sunshine and shelter from wind.

Plant Milkweed to Help Monarch Butterflies

Monarch butterflies are amazing creatures. These strikingly colored, orange, white, and black butterflies migrate up to three thousand miles every year to spend the winter roosting in large groups in mild winter areas of Mexico and California. Unfortunately, they are also in deep trouble. Over the past twenty years, the number of monarchs has dropped precipitously due in large part to loss of habitat.

Healthy Gardening- Amaranth

Amaranth- this beautiful jewel in the yard- is considered a weed by most of us here in the United States, yet contains more vitamins, minerals and protein than nearly any other green leafy or garden vegetable. The goal of my writing today is to encourage you to consider adding amaranth to your garden and to your cuisine.

Growing Herbs Under Lights

Even with a bright sunroom, sun-loving herbs will need 12 to 16 hours a day of supplemental light. You have two choices: fluorescent or high-intensity discharge (HID).

Building A DIY Planter Box

In need of some extra garden space? You may need a planter box. Planter boxes vary in shape and size and allow you to have a few plants just about anywhere.