The fact of the matter is that producing flowers and fruits are tasks that take large amounts of energy. Unlike animals, which can increase food consumption to meet increased energy demands, plants are at the mercy of the amount of energy they can produce on their own. Continue reading Sometimes late bloomers are the best
Harbingers of spring are those little symbols that show that spring has sprung (or is at least around the corner). Time has sprung forward, robins are out getting the early worm and blooms are starting to make their presence known in the garden. Perhaps there is no other flower that is indicative of the start of spring as much as the daffodil. From golden yellow, … Continue reading Daffodils: Harbinger of Spring (and Doom?)
So it goes to reason that letting plants grow to their biggest and best is a no-brainer. Often, however, the key to the nicest plants, the showiest flowers, or the biggest vegetables is all in knowing what to remove from the plant and when.Take, for example, flowers. If I have a dahlia plant, I can let the plant happily chug along, producing all of the … Continue reading Growing the biggest and best in the garden
The mercury (or red-dyed alcohol) creeps farther down the thermometer. Glimmering morning frost that highlights the world around us gives way to a bone-chilling freeze. Autumn colors fade from the hillside, leaving shivering, naked trees in their wake. Fall slowly gives way to the winter creeping up behind it. As temperatures dip, many gardeners find time for one last activity, a celebration of a gardening … Continue reading Fall bulbs for a colorful spring
