Gardener's Greenroom

At first, zinnias don’t seem to have the jazzy appeal of other summer favorites. They aren’t prohibitively expensive like designer dahlia tubers. They aren’t finicky like lisianthus. They don’t need to be started super early like ranunculus. At only a...

If you ran through a sprinkler as a kid, you know the joy adding a little water can bring to the backyard. Water features in our gardens are transformative. They bring an entirely new element and add to the ways...

We all love a good hanging basket with cascades of petunias spilling down, sweet potato vines and verbena showing off their colors, and calibrachoa stealing the show. The smaller, simple hanging baskets at big-box stores are a bit boring and...

Nothing says garden quite like a fat, sassy hill of summer squash plants. Their huge, deep green leaves, mounding growth habit, and prolific production make them easy-to-grow plants that can really add to your weekly menu options.  Did you know...

These gardens were the kitchen gardens you might imagine growing right out the back door of a French country farmhouse. Lush, productive, and well-kept, you might envision ripe tomatoes, bushy herbs, bulbing onions, and cucumbers growing on a trellis. Pole...

Pumpkin growing contests have sprouted up all over the country. Some are quite formalized and others less so (the weigh-in for my local contest is at a taphouse, after which celebrations are held). Growing huge pumpkins is a passion for...

This easy Cowboy Caviar recipe is a fresh, colorful dip made with produce straight from your own garden, including black beans, pinto beans, corn, tomatoes, peppers, cilantro, and onion. Tossed in a zesty homemade dressing, it’s a healthy and crowd-pleasing Tex-Mex...

If you’ve noticed your grocery bill creeping up lately, you’re not alone. Prices for everyday staples and items including lettuce, cucumbers, and fresh herbs are rising, and those little increases add up fast. There is an alternative that’s affordable, rewarding,...

Introducing kids to the garden (no, don’t step on that!) can be an exercise in patience. Depending on their age and interests, they may be more or less interested in the paths and processes of a garden. But many a...