One of my all-time favorite books (after the Bible), is The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. This story enlivens my spirit in the winter, awakening my soul to the gloriousness of the coming spring. While it may be possible for one to create a garden hidden away from others be

Its that time of year again, when seed companies begin engulfing your mailbox with catalogs. I look forward to the bright and cheery catalogs at a time when nothing is blooming. Each company is known for its own brand of advertising, with pages full of colorful photos and drawings. De

Groundcovers are one of the most important plants groups in the garden. They play a crucial role in retaining soil on slopes, they can fill large areas of shady ground where grass will not grow, and they can provide an unbroken expanse of color that helps tie garden areas together.  T

Giving Thanks Our world is filled with amazing things. We get to see the world change in full circle each year. From the deep snows winter to the sweet blossoms of springtime to the colors of summer to the autumn crispness and back to winter again every year. Many countries and people

August is peach season! As a kid, I always thought the peaches should be ripe much earlier than they actually are.  I was always so impatient for those small green balls to grow big and turn bright yellow and red.  We have made it again to peach season and all the delights that come w

by Nadine Champlin, Landscape Designer, Owner of Prairie Place Designs, Sabetha, KS Design Consultant for Grimm’s Gardens,  Hiawatha, KS A Native American legend tells us:  “If you have a secret wish, find a butterfly and whisper your wish to it.  When you release the butterfly

School is almost out for the year and that means the kids will be home for summer.  Although they are outside of a classroom for a couple of months, it does not mean that they are done learning!  Some of the best life lessons and learning experiences are taught at home! In the last fe

Cauliflower is a cool season vegetable that is best planted when the temperatures rise to about seventy degrees. This happens in Kansas around the end of March. Start your own seed near the beginning of February. If you were late planting seed, stop by Grimm’s Gardens and pick up a sm

For those of you who are eagerly awaiting warmer weather, brighter colors, and new life there is a remedy for what ails you! Late February and Early March is the time to begin starting your garden seeds indoors! Start your cold crops such as Cauliflower, Broccoli, Eggplant, Onions, Le

Winter time is the best time to plan and prepare for next year’s gardens. We at Grimm’s Gardens are busy with ideas and preparations for the upcoming spring season. From now until March 1st, we will receive many calls and emails from customers wanting to know if they can plant somethi

Early in January I attended the Great Plains Growers Conference at Missouri Western University, in St. Joseph, MO.  While I was there I was asked to look into the tomato grafting workshop, in the hope that we could possibly put multiple varieties of tomatoes onto one plant. I admit, i

For the creative-types like myself, there comes a point when you are tired of a standard square garden and everything planted in a row. This is the moment when it is necessary to combine garden and landscape into a seamless backyard beauty. My plan for this year is to plant strawberri

It is the time for reflecting on last year and laying out the plan for a new year. Have you slowed down to remember all the joys you had last year? I barely have. When I do pause for a moment, my thoughts tend to remember big moments such as traveling, or family celebrations. I encour

When I first heard Michael Dirr speak at Bailey’s Nursery in the summer of 2005, he mentioned two plants that every garden should have: hydrangeas and viburnums. He then went on to talk about the hydrangeas available for the market at that time. However, I prefer to talk about viburnu

In the last few years, edibles have taken center stage in many gardens as people try to grow chemical free, organic food for their families. Edible landscaping has resurged as a major design addition in many home landscapes. The use of edibles in borders, adding fruit trees and shrubs

Let your senses be aroused! Most of our gardens are designed for our eyes and our tastes. We use edibles and vegetable gardens to prepare a palette for our taste buds. We delight our eyes with textures, colors, scale, balance, and form. But do we create a garden that maintains these i

      Pictured above: ‘Amish Paste’ Tomato I have been an heirloom gardener for four years now. You would not call me an expert, just an enthusiast. When I first started growing heirlooms four years ago, I had no idea how it would transform my garden, or my life. If it is

Children need to “Go outside and play!”, as our mothers often told us when we were youngsters.   The importance for kids to exercise and play outside has been proven time and time again.  Research collected by the National Wildlife Federation points to the outdoors for dec

We all want a landscape that is easy to maintain, provides beauty all year round, and provides benefits for our families, right? What if we create landscapes that are even more beneficial to our families and to wildlife, where we could, in season, simply pick fruit right off the tree