Gardener's Greenroom

Many of us start gardening, at least as adults, by purchasing a few plants from the garden center, big box store, or those temporary greenhouses that spring up in supermarket parking lots in spring. We come home with a four-pack...

It’s the start of the gardening season, that time when we eagerly look to the mailbox with anticipation. Not for the electric bill, but the seed catalogs. Even though many of us will eventually place our orders online, the seed...

For many gardeners, the idea of a flower meadow, with nodding blooms gently waving in the breeze, is high on the wish list. In a flower meadow, we loosen the typical constraints about spacing, organization, and orderly rows. It’s more...

As gardeners look ahead to the 2026 growing season, one thing is clear: gardens are becoming more thoughtful, more efficient, and more resilient than ever before. Instead of chasing novelty, today’s gardeners are focusing on what truly works—plants that perform...

Light is a form of energy in transit. When we say something gives off light, what we are really saying is that the device is releasing or broadcasting energy. The light we see, and that used by plants, falls in...

Key Takeaways Zinnia seeds should be sown after the last frost, when the soil and air are warm enough for growth. For an early start, you can begin zinnia seeds indoors 4–6 weeks before the last frost, then transplant them...

If you’ve ever looked at the neatly mowed, raked, weeded, fertilized, and irrigated patch of grass surrounding your home and thought, Why do we do all this, you might be ready to consider an alternative to a traditional lawn. The...

Poinsettias are often staged near the entry and exit of grocery stores, big box retailers, and our favorite department store as impulse buys. A little holiday music, and suddenly, poof, there's one in the cart.  I love poinsettias, and they...

You’ve decided to add some vertical elements to your garden. It’s a great way to step up your design and enhance your garden experience. But you’d like something different. Some perennials and annuals are classic trellis or arbor choices, like...