Rock gardens commonly emulate naturally rocky sites and formations. They replicate the natural habitat or alpine plants and recreate the conditions in which they thrive. Rock gardens are usually situated on naturally sloping sites with good drainage. They often feature a series of rocky outcrops with wet but usually dry gullies running in between. Sunny […] More
Nearly all flowers, twigs, berries, and leaves can be brought indoors and put in a vase for display. Some flowers, however, are easier to grow, cut, and display than others. You can plant flowers for cutting. You can even dedicate a bed or even a garden for cutting flowers. Flowers that are well suited for […] More
Songbirds, hummingbirds, and butterflies are easily attracted to your garden by flowering annuals, perennials, and shrubs. A variety of flowering plants will attract a variety of wildlife. Easy ways to attract birds and butterflies Here are simple ways to attract butterflies and birds to your garden: Flowering plants that attract butterflies and birds Here are […] More
Many annual and perennial flowers are well suited for growing in containers. Even some smaller shrubs and trees can be grown in containers. Bloom, foliage color, and form should be top considerations when choosing plants for growing in pots, window boxes, or other containers. Length of bloom and ability to withstand periodic and sometimes erratic […] More
Ample water is not a requirement for a beautiful garden. Water-conservation in the garden is very doable. Water-smart gardening can save time and money. A drought-tolerant garden makes the most of the water it gets. “Xeriscaping” is a term used for growing naturally drought-adapted plants using water-saving methods. A xeriscape does not need to look […] More
Some plants thrive in shade. You can still have a garden even if all you have is shade. Just know, plants that thrive in shade are not the same plants that thrive in sunlight. A shade garden is defined by the outlines of shadows cast by buildings, walls and fences, trees, and shrubs. Types of […] More
Groundcovers are low growing trailing or clumping plants, usually evergreen, that quickly join together to form a dense layer of leaves. Flowering groundcovers can be grouped together to form a sea of color. In design groundcover plants are often used to fill the foreground of a design. Planted as a mass groundcover plants cause a […] More
Trees are commonly the largest and tallest elements in a garden or landscape design. They also take the longest time to grow. Trees are commonly defined as woody plants with single or multi-trunks that are greater than 20 feet high. There are dwarf and miniature trees shorter than 20 feet, but they are often treated […] More
Vines create tremendous vertical effects while using little horizontal space. They can be an asset to a garden’s color, texture, and form. If a garden is small, with a lot of wall or other vertical space, vines become an important design element. Vines can complement architecture or other hardscape in a garden or landscape. Vines […] More
Flowering shrubs are an important element in nearly every garden or landscape design. They not only bring color to the landscape they add structure as well. Shrubs are woody-stemmed plants with a number of branches arising at or a little above ground level; shrubs lack conspicuous trunks. All shrubs flower, but some have inconspicuous blooms. […] More
Shrubs along with trees are the backbone of most garden and landscape designs. Shrubs serve different functions in the garden. They can act as walls or low borders. They can stand alone as specimens of interest. Specimen shrubs are colorful and vibrant; sometimes they are oddly shaped. A specimen shrub is usually planted alone but […] More
Roses offer the garden designer a wide palette of colors, sizes, bloom times, and functions in the landscape. Roses bloom in every color except black. There are shrub and hedge roses, climbing roses, bush roses, groundcover roses, and miniature roses. Roses in the garden and landscape When adding roses to the garden consider first how […] More
Stephen Albert