Bring the Heat with Hardy Hibiscus
Hardy hibiscus love the heat, so when summer hits, it starts exploding in the garden. I follow a lot of gardening groups online, and one of the biggest concerns people have is the slow start of their hardy hibiscus. Is it dead? Why is it not growing yet? It is a yearly thing, especially with […]
Cranberry Crush Hibiscus – 3 Gallon Container
Dark Leaves – Adding Depth to the Garden
Putting dark leaves in the garden not only adds depth, but also intrigue, and if done right, mystery. Plants with dark leaves are rare in nature, but abound in the nursery trade, after being bred and selected for generations. I love using dark leaves in the garden, more so than chartreuse or variegated leaves. But […]
Garden Review – 2022
It is that time of year again, time for an annual garden review. Each December, I look back on the year to see how annuals, perennials, and more fared during the year’s weather and extreme events. For example, 2021 was the year of wind; we had a tornado and 2 wind events which toppled many […]
Long-Lived Perennials for the Garden
Long-lived perennials should be a staple in the garden, right? Well, with so many options these days for perennials and plants, finding the truly long-lived ones is not as easy. Some of our Grandmother’s favorite flowers are the long-lived plants we desire now, but cannot find. Sometimes we need to go back to our roots […]
Preparing the Garden for Winter
If you are like me, you have a large chore sheet for the garden, before winter sets in. Besides my 70 some maintenance customers, I have a large 1 acre (so far) garden to prepare for the cold months. And only about 6 to 8 weeks to do it all. Read on for helpful hints […]
Build a Butterfly Garden in 9 Steps
Building a butterfly garden should be on the list for every gardener. You can make your entire garden and landscape a butterfly garden or you can create a small, postage stamp garden specifically for butterflies. Anyone, even balcony gardeners can have a butterfly garden. You can have your own pollinator paradise in 9 easy steps. […]
Mallows in the Garden – Tropical Additions
Mallows in the garden can create a tropical-like atmosphere, if used correctly. I like to use the shrubs, perennials, and biennials that grow well in my region to create the desired look. Once they are in place, I can look to adding non-hardy tropicals such a palms and elephant’s ears to my garden experience. The […]
November Tips for the Garden
We do not think about there being much to do in the garden in November. However, November in Northeast Kansas is usually snow free, and warm enough to work the ground for the next season. This is also still a good time to plant trees, shrubs, and perennials, as long as the ground is not […]
