Zinnias and Cosmos are one of the easiest and most prolific annual combinations for endless blooms from summer through fall. Bonus: This combination makes an instant cutting garden! One of the best things about wildflowers is how easy they are to grow and maintain, but designing a thoughtful wildflower garden can take time, research, and…
Judith makes observations, including on bee and wasp diversity, as part of research done by a PhD student, as the bee hotel is dismantled for the season. While the weather is still incredibly mild, I am seeing many of the signs of autumn. Most of the trees have lost their leaves and the chickadees are…
Berries are an irresistible treat for birds, particularly in winter when food is scarce. The fruits produced by these shrubs provide calories and crucial nutrients that birds need, particularly during the cold winter months when other natural food sources are nonexistent or buried in the snow. Here are some of my favorites to consider for…
Foamflower can be a great addition to many gardens. It has an interesting, attractive leaf when not in flower. It also produces masses of lovely, lightly-scented white star-shaped flowers that rise above the foliage. Shell pink flower buds appear from mid-spring to mid-summer. It is most effective for visual effects when planted in groups. Green…
It’s time to set the stage for brilliant spring color by choosing bulbs to plant in the fall to enjoy in your beds, borders, and containers in the spring. Plant before the middle of October for sheer joy next spring. For the optimal visual effect, plant in multiple groupings of 10–20 bulbs around existing perennials and…
Wondering how to use neem oil as a natural fungicide on plants? Find out below. Neem oil is a vegetable oil that, in addition to its many benefits, protects plants from insects, mites, or fungal infestations. It is completely safe to use, and won’t harm people or animals or endanger wildlife in any other way….
Rough-stemmed goldenrod is a herbaceous perennial with rough leaves that can grow up to 2 m (6.6 ft) tall. The majority of its leaves are cauline. Up to 50 stems from a single plant can bear 50–1500 yellow flower heads apiece. It blooms from late summer to early October. It can be distinguished from Solidago…
Bottle Gentian is, with its dark blue closed flower, among the finest perennials to grace the garden in late summer. Bottle gentian has bottle-like deep blue flowers that never actually open. The blooms are pollinated exclusively by bumblebees, which have the size and strength needed to pry open the flowers and gain entry. Bottle Gentians…
Dividing aloe into several smaller ones is a great way to propagate new plants. More aloe vera plants, for example, will allow you to make aloe gel, which has many uses. Smaller plants can be given to friends and family or used in other projects. It is also a great way to save money by…
Stiff Goldenrod is a good choice for prairie gardens, cottage gardens and pollinator gardens. It is a resilient, self seeds and you might need to control its growth. Compared to most goldenrods, stiff goldenrod has larger, flatter flower clusters. In the fall, the leaves change to lovely colors of red. Plant Stiff Goldenrod alongside other…
The four-flower yellow loosestrife, or Lysimachia quadrifolia, is a species of herbaceous plant in the Primulaceae family. It is indigenous to Canada and the eastern United States. An upright, branched form called Lysimachia quadriform grows to a maximum height of around 2 feet (0.61 m). It thrives on calcareous soils under moist to rainy circumstances….
Today I am straining my nasturtium vinegar and making my Nasturtium Vinaigrette. I like to use basil as my herb, but really the herb is your choice. I enjoyed the cool breezes this morning as I did my chores. I can feel the humidity waiting for me just around the corner. The humidity has been…
Ohio Goldenrod (Solidago ohioensis) has a compact form that belies its large, exuberant floral display late in the season. It has flat-topped clusters of vivid yellow flowers, while lance-like leaves form a basal rosette. Seeds are produced with fluff, which is dispersed through the wind. Native Americans and early settlers used this plant to make…
Zaatar is an interesting herb and kind of acts like a climbing sage. The leaves are good to eat fresh, and they are quite spicy when dried. The heat and humidity continue to be a factor and to add to the misery, I am covered in poison ivy and wild parsnip sores. Yes, I did…
Rough Blazing Star features fluffy, deep rose-purple flowers arranged in 1″ button-like heads. Blooming begins, as one would assume, at the top of the flower stalk and steadily progresses downward. The flower display continues from late summer until autumn for 3–4 weeks. Discover more about its sister plants, the slender blazing star and the dense…
The Nodding Onion is famous for its blossoms’ unusual orientation: pointing downward, “nodding” towards the earth. Each hooked stem has pom-poms of star-shaped blooms blossoming in cream, pastel pink, and light lavender. This plant is simple to cultivate and will expand naturally by seed and bulb offshoots. Plant in large quantities for a spectacular show….
Obedient plant, true to its name, its flowers are “obedient” and can bend in any direction. The obedient plant is a flowering plant in the mint family that is easy to grow. It boasts tubular pink to pale lilac flowers in upright terminal spikes. The flowers bloom bottom to top on each spike. This is…
My colourful flowers were so beautiful. The Emily Carr rose that had such horrible winter damage is covered in deep red roses. One of my daylilies is blooming all sunshine yellow with red. And then there is my dahlia. There have been a few showers without the drama of thunder and wind, and I have…
Oregano is a woody perennial, so I often harvest only the young plants. I have discovered that my oregano makes amazing pesto! It is a lovely morning. The air is fresh, the birds are singing, and I have run out of topsoil. This was my first year of trying out an order of topsoil and…
Sunflowers are versatile plants that provide a long summer bloom for the perennial border or cutting garden. They are also effective in a native plant or wild garden or as part of a naturalized planting or prairie area. They attract birds, bees, and butterflies. Their height varies, and they tolerate a wide range of soils….
Milkweed, of which there are about 14 different types in Canada, is the only host plant for monarch butterflies. In summer, the female monarch feeds on the nectar and lays eggs on the underside of young leaves. Once the larvae emerge, they feed on the leaves, creating an arc-shaped hole. Several weeks later, after the…
Deadheading flowers is a very important job to do in the garden as it helps to increase the number of blooms on your plants. This morning dawned warm and humid. I am finding the quiet buzz of the insects and the chorus of birds to be relaxing as I prepare for the day. Breakfast with…
Yellow Giant Hyssop grows quickly to reach heights of 3 to 8 feet. The bigger, lower leaves can grow to be as huge as a thick piece of bread. And, depending on the plant’s age and general height, its bloom spike can be up to 16 inches long! The creamy tiny blooms that gather together…
Rhodora is a thin, erect-branched shrub that seldom grows taller than 3-4 feet. This small northern shrub has stunning blooms that appear before or alongside the leaves. Rhodora canadensis, also known as Canada rosebay, is a deciduous shrub native to northeastern North America and a member of the heath family. It is most commonly found…
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