KITCHEN HERB basics: SAGE Basics on Sage (salvia officinalis) Part of the mint family, this exceptionally easy-to-grow perennial offers a lingering, slightly spicy aroma that’s warm—and smells like Grandma’s Thanksgiving stuffing. It’s no wonder sage’s fragrance instills a sense of calm, while also adding beauty to the garden. Too, its scent repels harmful pests (including rabbits and deer) from the garden. …Read More
It Just Isn’t Fall without Mums A fall floral favorite, the mum is as much a staple for fall as is a pumpkin to Halloween. Bright, colorful and versatile, mums transform front doors into festive welcome centers and complete harvest displays with brilliant, flawless beauty. You just can’t go wrong with the versatile chrysanthemum. And one more reason to love mums? …Read More
Plenty a’ Pretty Pansies Blooming bulbs aside, it’s the pretty pansy that brightens our views in early April. Yes, often the first-planted blooms of spring, the pansy offers brilliance of color and sunny promise of warmer days to come. They are coming. While pansies may be started from seed, there’s no shame in buying ready-to-plant gorgeous blooms. What’s to love about these brilliant beauties? …Read More
Gerbera Daisy Oh, she’s a bloomin’ beauty alright. You just can’t go wrong with summer blooms. But our personal favorite? Hands-down, it’s the Gerbera Daisy (also known as Gerber Daisy). Dainty, brilliantly colored and hardy, we crown the Gerbera Daisy as the best beauty queen in potted arrangements, landscape beds—and it’s a ‘must’ for indoor cut floral arrangements. Their bright, …Read More
A Honey of a Bloom Honeysuckle It’s sweetly fragrant and wildly attractive. The honeysuckle is a romantic, yet hardy twining vine or arching shrub. With about 180 species, the honeysuckle is a great addition to any landscape with its sweet blooms in pink, yellow or red blossoms. Too, the delicate blooms’ tasty nectar is a wonderful attraction for various wildlife. …Read More
Lily-Of-The-Valley They’re the beautiful answer to the drab areas in your landscape that just Won’t. Grow. Anything. And don’t let their dainty, tiny, bell-shaped flowers fool you. Lily-of-the-valley is not delicate. This spreading perennial is hardy as can be, and it’s happiest deep in the shade, although it can also thrive in part-sun. Yep, where others fail to thrive (or …Read More
Oh, so Sweet Pea ‘Tis the season to start thinking about your flower garden and landscape (if you don’t have your plan together already!). Sweet peas are so named due to their delicate, sweet fragrance. The most fragrant varieties available are labeled “old fashioned” or “heirloom,” although many lesser-fragrant varieties are now available in a gorgeous, ever-expansive array of bloom …Read More
Are you feeling lucky this March? Add this fun, lucky bamboo to your home as a sign of prosperity and goodness to come this spring. We’ve likely all seen lucky bamboo on a co-worker’s desk or in a friend’s home—growing within a vase with water or pebbles. This is because lucky bamboo grows hydroponically (yes, it lives in water). It’s …Read More
Snow blankets the ground in much of this wonderful (but absolutely FREEZING) country. Nowadays, the beauty of winter is admired a little less frequently and many of us are ready for spring by mid- to late-February. Right? Of course we are. And these little gems help lift our spring-fever spirits. They’re snow crocus. They look dainty, but are among the …Read More
It’s cold. It’s dreary. Sunshine is an elusive, albeit always welcome, visitor. Yes, January can be a drag. So, why not brighten things up? How about adding some brilliant color and new life to the home? It’s easy to bring colorful life indoors. Simply add a gorgeous amaryllis to your home. Although it’s traditionally known as a holiday flower, our …Read More
[thumbnail] Appropriately named, Knock Out® rose bushes stand-out like the knockout babes they are. Their brilliant flowers keep a’bloomin’ throughout the entire summer, and often until the first frost. It’s no wonder they’re one of the most popular roses in North America. Care Knock Out® roses are far from picky, too. And particularly in the month of June when we’re …Read More