The Three Little Pigs got it right! Story and Photography by Susan Jasan We enjoy what we see in our home and garden, but what you don’t see is critical to the long-term enjoyment of your landscape and your gardens. Just as the classic children’s tale The Three Little Pigs teaches us, it’s important to …
Story and Photography by Yvonne Lelong Bordelon You’ll enjoy growing garden balsam, an easy-to-grow, upright heirloom Impatiens species that was a favorite in Victorian gardens. Both the showy single-flowered variety and the double camellia-like form are making a comeback. The lovely flowers attract pollinators, including bees and butterflies, to the garden. Balsam does well when …
Dealing with sunlight transitions in the landscape Story and Photography by Annie Barbas Instant garden changes came in the form of a tornado flinging branches on rooftops and toppling trees. Live oaks (Quercus virginiana), some more than 70 years old fell, clipping the gable and splitting the satsuma tangerine tree (Citrus unshiu) while also eliminating …
Is there a tapestry hedge in your future? Story and Photography By Lynn Carlson We are all familiar with long rows of identical evergreen shrubs or trees, Leyland cypress (×Hesperotropsis leylandii) for example. But tapestry hedge includes several species of evergreens, or a mixture of evergreen and deciduous species, some tall, some short. Look to …
Let the composting process do the work for you Story and Photography by Kristi Cook Of all the amendments one can add to garden soil, compost is the most valuable. Black, earthy compost increases water retention, replenishes nutrients, improves drainage, and can even be used as mulch. Yet, many sources make the process of turning …
Add movement to your landscape with these plants that ‘dance’ in the wind Story and Photography by Susan Jasn Admittedly, when almost any type of music starts, I’m hard-pressed to sit still. It’s as if something in my spirit is calling me to move, to dance. But then reality hits: Grace is definitely not my …
Broad thoughts on narrow beds By Margeaux Emery Are you considering adding a narrow bed to your landscape or renovating one already in place? If so, congratulations – you’re about to open a treasure box of creative gardening choices and opportunities. Whether the bed is a foundation planting or intended to enliven a shady patio, …
