Such is the joy of gardening in Ireland that last week we may have been looking for plants that would tolerate excessive rain and wind and would grow in waterlogged soils, and next week we are looking for drought tolerant plants. I wonder if they will dare raise the issue of a hose pipe ban … Read more
Gardens of beautiful flowers blossom throughout the Triad. Here, where summers are off the calendar and temperatures stay warm well into fall, there are still many months of harvest left. Eventually summer flowers will fade and die with the frost… But that doesn’t mean you have to say goodbye to those gorgeous blooms. We asked … Read more
Do you long for that elusive “low maintenance” garden? Do you love weeding and trimming plants, or is it a chore you struggle to find time for? It may surprise you to learn that one way to reduce maintenance is to leave it to nature. I’m not talking about rewilding as many of us don’t … Read more
If you are just beginning to prune a garden, sunflowers and zinnias are the perfect flowers for beginners. The experts at the National Garden Bureau (www.ngb.org) offer the following advice, along with my take on plants for our Niagara gardens. Nothing says summer like the towering, cheerful blooms of sunflowers or the bright, showy colors … Read more
They’re a bit of an unruly guest – once they get comfortable, nasturtiums will spread everywhere, not even thinking of their neighbors, but they bring such joy, beauty, and other values to the garden, I forgive them a lot. One of the easiest plants to grow, Nasturtium adds bright color with its orange, yellow and … Read more
Bedding plants are frowned upon by many “serious” gardeners, but not by me, which must make me a frivolous gardener. As you can see, I love color and nothing can add color to a garden like summer bedding flowers. I don’t use them in the traditional way that became popular during the Victorian period, ie … Read more
In May’s column, we discussed a quote often found in gardening literature: “Plant the right plant in the right place.” Choosing and planting a plant that will thrive where it is planted (and thriving without much extra work from the gardener) is fundamental to a successful landscape. Ignoring this gardening advice can result in a … Read more
Worried about hyperinflation and looming food shortages? Growing food relieves your mounting grocery budget and anxiety about food availability when you don’t know what to expect from the grocery store. AllAboutGardening.com found new research in Google Search Trends showing the top 10 vegetables Americans want to learn how to grow the most. While growing your … Read more