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Hard-to-Find Houseplants Here are our top 9 picks for hard-to-find houseplants, including a few you can buy today! 1. Variegated Monstera Big leaves make a big impact, and few houseplants work this better than Monstera, also called the “Swiss cheese plant” because of the appealing cuts in the leaves. The most exotic of the many species of Monstera is the variegated species, with enormous green and white leaves with attractive splits....

Victorian stumpery gardens are regaining popularity these days as modern gardeners again appreciate their simplicity and timeless appeal. If you are considering installing this type of fern garden, it’s time to get inspired with some exciting stumpery garden ideas. What Made Victorian Stumpery Gardens So Popular? Garden trends come and go these days, but trends are not just a component of modern society. Even in the Victorian era, garden styles were dictated by fashion trends....

About Beaked Hazelnut This species of hazelnut, Corylus cornuta, is native to most of Canada and the U.S. It is a deciduous shrub that can be small to large. It ranges in height from four to 25 feet (1.2 to 7.6 m) depending on the location and conditions. Beaked hazelnut is deciduous with ovate, toothed, bright green leaves that turn yellow in fall. The flowers emerge in spring and include long male catkins and smaller female flowers with bright red stigmas....

The Best Spring Bulbs for Bees Are Native It’s not just bees, but any pollinators really. Native species co-evolved with pollinators, so they offer the best resources. Bulbs for a butterfly garden or just to give local bees a boost should be native. Here are some good options for many North American gardens: Trout Lily – Trout lily is a true bulb native to most of the eastern U.S. The spotted yellow leaves that resemble the shape of a fish give these flowers their name....

Both these dahlia plant types add impact and drama, while holding their own in bad weather. The half-effort gives a semi-cactus dahlia flower a fluffier look. Look for cactus dahlia bulbs (or tubers) in any of the varieties listed below, and add a dramatic new flower to your beds or containers. Choosing the Best Cactus Dahlia Varieties If you want to try this striking flower in your garden, there are several types of cactus dahlia and semi-cactus dahlia to choose from....

Updating hardscaping can completely transform a yard, but it can be expensive. If the budget is tight, then focus on getting the best out of planting. You don’t even have to spend much money if you learn how to propagate plants for free. Climbing vines, containers, and hanging baskets can all be used to detract from more tired hardscaping finishes. Whether you take your landscaping back to basics or work with what you already have, these expert design tips will help you to achieve the garden of your dreams....

Tomatoes can be grown tumbling out the top of hanging baskets, or even upside down through holes in the base. Several years ago, the idea of an upside-down tomato planter took the gardening world by storm and is an option worth considering. Growing inverted tomatoes takes advantage of gravity to evenly deliver nutrients and water. As well as being perfect for small spaces, growing vegetables in hanging baskets has a few other benefits, as it allows the plants plenty of growing space and air circulation, and makes harvesting a breeze....

Can you Sow Grass Seed in the Fall? The short answer to sowing grass seed in the fall is yes, but it gets a bit more complicated. First it depends on what type of grass seed you are sowing. The types of grass you sow will either be of the cool season or warm season variety. Warm season grasses such as Kentucky bluegrass or Rough bluegrass are slower to germinate and establish enough to endure frost while cool season grasses like Ryegrasses do so more rapidly allowing them to establish maturity quickly enough to withstand winter weather....

How to Water Plants While on Vacation Stopping or getting mail collection and pet care are 2 possible items to take care of prior to vacation, but so is figuring out how to water plants while away. Watering plants on vacation may necessitate calling in a favor, investing in some tools, or moving plants to a more favorable location for a short period of time. 1. Ask a Friend, Family, or Neighbor If you have a close friend or family member, or have a good relationship with your neighbor, it doesn’t hurt to ask....

This is great news, because finding non-toxic alternatives to chemical herbicides can be challenging. Studies have shown that natural compounds such as acetic acid and fatty acids can be effective in controlling certain weeds. What is Ammonium Nonanoate Herbicide? Using an ammonium nonanoate safe preparation leaves little dangerous residue. It is a naturally occurring fatty acid found in some plants and animals. It is called a “soap salt” because fatty acids are part of the composition of soap....

Adding animal manure to vegetable and other garden beds is a common practice. Properly cured manure adds a super shot of nitrogen in an easy-to-use form. Other soil amendments might be rotted leaves, straw or hay, shredded newspaper, and other carbon additives to balance the nitrogen and increase porosity. In country settings, manure and other additives are often free. But be careful of such freebies as they may be the source of grass herbicide carryover....

Spring Planting I am a row planter in the vegetable garden, with the exception of beans and corn which cavort together in a rather disorganized fashion. So too, the melons and squash, which tend to take over their area. Yet in spite of my regimented approach to planting vegetables, in most cases, I put things where they will shade another plant. Not a good way to get a bountiful harvest. This year I have a new plan....

The pots’ warm, earthen color palette is due to the type of clay used to make them. Though terracotta looks great when new, it gets even better with age. Over time, pots develop a mellow patina that adds character to the garden, and perfectly complements foliage and flowers. The word terracotta literally means ‘baked earth’ in Italian. Originally pots were baked in the sun or an open fire, and today the manufacturing process is still very simple....

Getting off the couch for some cheeky bird watching in winter has major benefits. As well as keeping boredom at bay, it opens the door to physical activity; as much or as little as you desire. It’s also a way to meet other people who share your interest in bird watching and the outdoors. It can even lead to a new hobby like photography. Plus, by exploring your area or monitoring your own bird garden, you’ll become a budding ornithologist, learning all about your area’s specific birds and their fascinating habits....

Yet, it is so disappointing when freshly cut flowers begin to fade and die within a couple of days. When choosing plants for a cutting garden, opt for long-lasting cut flowers to ensure your vision and hard work aren’t all for nothing. Some flowers will live on for two weeks in the vase, and make enduring additions to floral arrangements. That’s what a cutting garden is for – to display your labor of love for all to see....

However, make the wrong choice and your tree will be a source of disappointment throughout the holidays. By the time Christmas has arrived, it may have already dried up and dropped most of its needles. Good Christmas tree care is vital to making it last – too many people neglect their tree once it is decorated. To keep a Christmas tree alive until New Year it needs the right conditions and regular watering....

title: “Elmsdale Community Garden Our 2022 Grant Recipient” ShowToc: true date: “2024-10-04” author: “Miles Keys” title: “Elmsdale Community Garden Our 2022 Grant Recipient” ShowToc: true date: “2024-09-21” author: “Sonja Gibson” title: “Elmsdale Community Garden Our 2022 Grant Recipient” ShowToc: true date: “2024-09-14” author: “Albert Pierce” title: “Elmsdale Community Garden Our 2022 Grant Recipient” ShowToc: true date: “2024-09-18” author: “Robert Reyes” title: “Elmsdale Community Garden Our 2022 Grant Recipient” ShowToc: true date: “2024-09-27” author: “Michael Robinson” title: “Elmsdale Community Garden Our 2022 Grant Recipient” ShowToc: true date: “2024-10-06” author: “Patricia Kelly” title: “Elmsdale Community Garden Our 2022 Grant Recipient” ShowToc: true date: “2024-09-01” author: “Vickie Evans” title: “Elmsdale Community Garden Our 2022 Grant Recipient” ShowToc: true date: “2024-09-18” author: “Lemuel Sipriano”

indeterminate A plant that produces fruit continuously. This term is typically used when talking about varieties of tomatoes. indoor gardening Gardening inside a structure, typically a home. This term frequently refers to caring for houseplants, but can also refer to doing more traditional styles of gardening, such as vegetable gardening, inside a building. insecticide A substance that kills insects. iron A trace metal that is needed for proper plant growth. Iron deficiencies in plants can result in yellowing of the leaves....

Winter Gardening During a usual winter, I enjoy stepping back from the garden, relinquishing the daily watering of the many container plants. Below freezing weather occurs frequently, offset by evenings spent near a crackling fire. I look forward to the arrival of gardening catalogs and contemplating what new plants I’d like to buy. With warm winter temperatures, I found myself out doing more watering than usual. (Truth be told, I rarely water at all during cold winter temperatures....

Leaves Curling on Rhododendron Whether you have rhodies in your garden or not, you likely know what the leaves look like. Normally, rhododendron leaves are flat and extend horizontally from the plant. But when temperatures dip significantly in winter, you may see those leaves coiled and hanging like dark green beans, as one gardener expressed it. That this happens is indisputable. As early as the 1800s, scientists noticed this phenomenon and tried to understand it....