Straw bales conjure up images of hay rides, old episodes of Hee Haw on YouTube, and livestock at feeding time. But did you know they’re increasingly popular in urban gardens? No garden plot required! They’re a perfect medium for veggies, herbs, flowers —...
We all know a putterer when we see one. Putterers putter in the yard — digging, planting, pruning, and mowing. It’s a form of therapy. But when temperatures soar into the 90s, with humidity to match, yard work feels less like therapy than torment. Even putterers...
The Aztecs gave us words like “chocolate,” “tomato,” and “avocado.” They developed chinampas, or floating gardens, to feed their large population. And they were the first to cultivate zinnias, a flower they called...
Plumeria, also known as frangipani or temple tree, are tropical American shrubs or small trees with sweet, fragrant blooms. Despite their close association with Hawaii (aloha!), Plumeria plants are native to the Caribbean Basin. They thrive in Southern...
Growing borage for companionship? We must be kidding, right? We’re dead serious. You may not appreciate the companionship, but your tomatoes and strawberries do. Among its many virtues, borage is a companion plant that repels garden pests and attracts native...
Hydrangea plants are Native Americans. They’re also Native Asians. The flowering plants were first cultivated in Japan, a country known for its gardening traditions and deep appreciation of nature. Hydrangea fossils date back 40-65 million years and have been...
