Beat the garden bug blues this growing season Story and Photos by Dr. Blake Layton Looking forward to this year’s vegetable garden? So are many insect pests. Much like people, insects have strong preferences about which vegetables they like best. Tobacco hornworms love tomatoes but can’t stand cabbage or broccoli, while cross-striped cabbageworms’ preferences are …
An easy addition to your vegetable garden Story and Photos by A.J. Heinsz-Bailey What vegetable is often overlooked, easy to grow and comes in a variety of shapes, colors and sizes? If you guessed “radish” you would be correct. The word Radish comes from the Latin word “radix” which means “root”. The first known radishes …
Canteloupe is a delicious melon for your summer garden Story and Photos by Christine Coker When we purchase “cantaloupe” in a U.S. grocery store, what we’re used to seeing is a fruit with an outer surface that consists of netting, an orderly mosaic pattern, that sits atop and covers the outermost skin. We may or …
How to build a raised bed from discarded shipping pallets Story and Photos by Sue Hughes Planting a garden in raised beds has several advantages: • Warms up faster in the spring • Easier to weed and maintain • Better control over the soil mixture (since you add it yourself) • Improved drainage • Prevents …
Growing pears in your home garden Story and Photos by A.J. Heinsz-Bailey If you are considering adding fruit trees to your landscape, pears (Pyrus communis) are a great way to get started. They will be covered in beautiful white flowers in the spring and succulent tasty fruits in the fall. They are easier to grow …
Choosing the best plants for your little piece of earth Story and Photos by Kristi Cook Gardening is a fairly simple affair. Provide the right location, the proper amendments, and adequate water and you’ll likely enjoy a good harvest. However, with a bit more planning, you can increase your garden’s success by selecting the best …
15 “cool” plants you can grow in Louisiana Story and Photography by Richelle Stafne I love visiting other people’s gardens to see what they are growing. It’s especially fun when I find new and interesting plants, or plants that I had forgotten. Even in my own garden it brings joy to hear someone say, “Ooh, …
Nature lifts the spirit and feeds the soul Story and Photography by Yvonne Lelong Bordelon If the sight of the blue skies fills you with joy, if a blade of grass springing up in the fields has power to move you, if the simple things in nature have a message you understand, rejoice, for your …
How about a new perspective? Story and Photography by Cindy Shapton Do you ever look at weeds and wonder why this or that plant is considered a weed while other plants, such as bermudagrass, are not? It’s all in the angle I suppose, “One man’s treasure is another man’s junk,” and all that. Perhaps, before …
Add drama to your landscape with these perfectly pendulous trees Story and Photography by Richelle Stafne Looking for ways to make your landscape smile? Consider adding some sad trees. Well, not sad per se, but weeping. Weeping branches, that is! Weeping trees and shrubs add interest and architectural drama. They can be at home in …
