Bringing up a crop of nature lovers Story and Photos by Yvonne Lelong Bordelon The other day, my brother and I were reminiscing about the wonderful experiences we had as children when we spent time with Mom and Dad in the garden. In today’s hustle-bustle world, many children don’t have the opportunity to delight in …
A healthy population of earthworms leads to a healthy garden Story and Photos by Kristi Cook I have worms. But I wish I had more. I’m talking about earthworms, some of nature’s most significant earth healers. These creatures can do everything from aerating garden soil and improving poor soil structure to fertilizing the garden. All …
Story and Photos by Yvonne Lelong Bordelon “A garden to walk in and immensity to dream in – what more could he ask? A few flowers at his feet and above him the stars.” – Victor Hugo The woodland garden of Charles and Virginia Yarbrough in Baton Rouge is a garden after my own heart. …
The needs and rewards of a backyard wildlife habitat Story and Photography by Yvonne Lelong Bordelon If you appreciate wildlife and the outdoors like I do, then you may enjoy creating a wildlife habitat in your own backyard. You don’t have to have a large piece of land. Our first registered habitat, back in the …
Making use of the latest outdoor lighting technologies Story by Katie Jackson A moonlit garden is enchanting, but sometimes the moon needs a little help shedding light on a garden’s nighttime beauty. That’s when it’s time to turn to technology. One of the most helpful developments in the outdoor lighting realm is the increased availability …
Try fragrant plants around the front door to your home Story by Jennifer Williams Treat yourself and your guests to an unforgettable entrance by placing fragrant plants at your home’s entry. While there are thousands to choose from, your climate and site conditions are going to dictate which plants will work best for you. The …
Growing plants with a purpose Story and Photos by Cindy Shapton When we moved from our city suburb to the country, I made a decision to be more conscience of plant material choices. No longer feeling the pressure to be just another pretty garden, I could chose plants with a purpose, ones that could move …
Make your yard a haven for our beloved pollinators Story and Photos by Jennifer Williams Pollinators – one of the latest gardening buzzwords. The decline of pollinators worldwide, and the many effects of this decline, is in the forefront of the minds of scientists, farmers, and gardeners. Planting even a small corner of your home …
It’s not just honeybees and butterflies Story by Helen Newling Lawson Helping pollinators is a hot gardening trend right now (dare we say there’s a “lot of buzz”?). Initiatives such as the Million Pollinator Garden Challenge are bringing attention to the need to create habitats for at-risk pollinators such as monarch butterflies and honeybees. But …
Thug plants to avoid in the landscape Story and Photography by Susan Albert Everyone who gardens can relate to the oft-used phrase “garden thugs.” During the experimental stage, when early gardeners eagerly try many plants with wild abandon, they may come across some decidedly ornery plants that cause extra work removing their offspring. And while …
