Bee balm, also known as Monarda, is a favorite perennial flower and herb much loved by humans and wildlife alike. It blooms with fantastic color in shades of red, pink, and purple. Not only is bee balm a beautiful ornamental plant, it’s also edible, fragrant, and has medicinal value. This is one plant you don’t
In this guide we teach you how to harvest Rhubarb plant. Rhubarb is an old-time plant with tangy, edible stalks. Though technically a vegetable, it’s most commonly used to make jams, jellies, pies, and other desserts. You’ll often see it paired with strawberries for a classic combination. The rhubarb plant is a perennial that grows
Pole beans are a staple garden vegetable that are very easy and rewarding to grow. You can easily fit them into your garden, even if you’re short on space, and they’ll reward you with a prolific harvest. Often referred to simply as green beans or string beans, pole beans actually come in an astonishing range
Milkweed is a much overlooked plant in the gardening world. The many varieties of milkweed plants bloom with both subtle and bright colors, and the whole milkweed plant is vital to the life cycle of Monarch butterflies as their sole host plant, and has also been used as a food source by Native American tribes.
Morning glories are beautiful, old-fashioned flowers. Their climbing vines can quickly fill in empty spaces in your gardens, and their huge blooms have a romantic air about them. Perfect for cottage gardens, you can plant morning glory as a ground cover, trailing plant, or to cover arbors and trellises. This plant is not, however, for
If you’re looking for an annual flower that’s easy to grow and will add a stunning burst of color to your garden, look no further than zinnias. Zinnias are a staple at garden centers and also incredibly easy to grow from seed. They make beautiful cut flowers and bloom prolifically. And there’s a huge range
Ornamental peppers are sure to add a splash of color to your garden. You can use them as a colorful and unique focal point or mix them into your landscape. Equally as good in a container garden as in the ground, you get to pick from a wide range of colors: reds, oranges, yellows, and
Lobelia is a happy and attractive little plant with a ton of versatility. It comes in many varieties and colors and makes a great addition to garden spaces, containers, and hanging baskets. Easy to grow and care for, lobelia is a plant for beginner and seasoned gardeners alike. Many gardeners love it because it’s one
Purple coneflower is a dream perennial to grow in your garden. It provides lovely color, needs little maintenance, and attracts lots of pollinators, hummingbirds, and songbirds. Drought tolerant and deer-resistant, not much bothers coneflower, and it will happily grow in a wide range of soils and conditions. It’s one of the best perennials for beginner
Butterfly weed is a bright and beautiful perennial that will add a lot to your garden. True to its name, this plant attracts butterflies, including the endangered monarch butterfly. It also fills your garden with warm color and once established will return to bloom year after year. Butterfly weed is a very easy plant to
Peppermint plant (mentha x piperita) is a delightful perennial to grow. It can be grown as a ground cover, planted in an herb garden, or put in a container to spill over the edges. All mints are hardy, easy to grow, and have wonderful fragrance. You’ll soon be putting fresh peppermint leaves in iced tea
Peppers can be considered a staple vegetable both in the garden and in the kitchen. Whether you like sweet peppers, green peppers, or hot peppers, there is almost an endless variety to choose from. Not only are they a healthy and colorful snack, peppers are also filled with flavor and easy to grow in areas
Here’s what you need to know about how to store garlic harvested from your garden. Garlic is a very rewarding plant to grow in your garden, especially if you love cooking with it and are always buying it at the store. The plant itself grows well in almost any climate, and freshly harvested garlic is
Thyme is a very fragrant herb used in many different cuisines to flavor dishes. It works especially well in recipes with lemon and garlic as well as with other herbs like rosemary and basil. Thyme can also make a lovely ornamental plant and ground cover. Different varieties have different colored leaves, and the tiny white,
Catnip (nepeta cataria) is an easy-to-grow perennial herb that belongs to the mint family. Growing catnip has beneficial properties for cats and for humans but can also be used simply as an ornamental plant. It’s a great plant for pollinators as well. The lavender or white flowers of catnip often attract bees and butterflies. And
Maple trees offer some of the best fall color you’ll ever find, putting on a showy display as the weather turns cold. They are also one of the easiest trees to grow and will stay standing for generations. There are over 100 different species of maple, ranging in size from small specimens to large shade
Here’s exactly how to store dahlia bulbs for winter and tips for replanting them in spring. Dahlias are some of the most striking flowers you can grow in your garden and landscape. They come in so many different sizes and colors that there’s sure to be an option for every gardener. Dahlias shine equally well
Here’s everything you need to know about how to make soil acidic using natural methods. Use a soil test kit to determine how acidic or alkaline your soil currently is. You can have the best soil in the world and give your plants the right amount of sunlight and water, but if they don’t have
With its trailing green leaves and small white or purple flowers, oregano can just as easily be an ornamental plant as a culinary herb. It has a robust, herbaceous flavor that frequently stars in Italian dishes and pairs well with almost any type of vegetable or meat. Even better, oregano is one of the easiest
Basil is one of the easiest herbs you can grow and will reward you with an abundant harvest throughout the summer. Its fresh, pungent flavor is a popular staple in everything from pizza to lemonade. If you’ve ever grown this herb, you know there’s nothing quite like picking fresh basil and adding it to your
Growing lettuce in containers is a great solution if you only have a small garden, balcony or patio. If you are able to begin growing lettuce in pots indoors you are also able to get a head start on the growing season. This means that you will be able to enjoy fresh salad leaves even