Great Design Plant: Crape Myrtle

One of my favorite things about living in the American South is that crape myrtles grow here. This unique tree has year-round interest, with its sculptural form, multiple stems, long-lasting flowers and gorgeous

Great Design Plant: Milkweed

One of the very best perennials to have in your garden is milkweed. I know that when most people hear the name, they cringe, grimace or turn up their nose, saying, But isnt that a weed? No, not really. And if it

Pick the Right Plant Pot to Flatter Your Landscape

When it comes to container gardens, your first thought is typically about what youll be planting. The vessel to contain your plants is often an afterthought. But with a little attention to the type of container

Mid-Atlantic Gardeners October Checklist

From the ever-changing leaves of oaks and maples to the harvesting of fall edibles, fall is a time of beauty and bounty. October is the month when all the hard work in the garden pays off, the natural world say

Southwest Gardeners October Checklist

With the recent autumnal equinox, the light is becoming softer here in the desert. This changes the way we see our garden spaces, and milder temperatures are changing how we can use them.The dry Southwest is div

Northern California Gardeners October Checklist

If you want further proof of how different California is, watch a Notre Dame football game on TV this month. Im not talking about the more exciting way California teams play the game but about the fall scenes o

Texas Gardeners October Garden Checklist

Fall is finally here, so take a big, deep, crisp breath. Your summer cleanup is completed, and now its time to plant, plant, plant. Fall is the absolute best time to get plants in the ground, as it gives them tw

Southeast Gardeners October Checklist

Fall for me brings the beginning of the new gardening year, and October is fall’s most festive month. Shorter days and cooler temperatures mean bringing in plants for a changing season. I’m not sure what excites

Southern California Gardeners October Checklist

Fall is prime planting time in Southern California. The well organized among us are rumored to plan all year long so that theyre ready to spring into action the instant the hot weather subsides (usually by mid-O

Pacific Northwest Gardeners October Checklist

Im a fair-weather gardener. I prefer to sit in front of a log fire enjoying my winter garden through the windows, rather than donning full rain gear and Wellies to deal with soggy perennials. That means getting

Great Lakes Gardeners October Checklist

October is one of the most variable months for the Great Lakes region of the United States. Temperatures can range anywhere from highs in the 80s to cold enough for snow. So turn on a fan or turn up the heat and

Central Plains Gardeners October Checklist

Between you and me, no other season comes close to beating fall. Maybe its because when I was 10, my family moved to Minnesota in late summer, and my first experiences in that new place were in deliciously cold,

Rocky Mountain Gardeners October Checklist

October is the beautiful bridge month between autumn and winter. The days are noticeably shorter, bright and cool. October is a busy month in the garden, the time to prepare for the harsh cold and snow of wint

Great Design Plant: Pansy

There are few flowers more charming than the pansy. Yes, its one of those blooms that you used to see in your grandmas garden, but there is a reason for its long-standing appeal. Its sunny, cheerful face, combin

Great Design Plant: Little Henry Sweetspire

There is no room in my garden for prima donnas. Everything has to perform well without fussing or special fertilizer, cope with herds of deer and thick clay soil, and look good in the process. Little Henry sweet

Great Design Plant: Cushion Bush

Greens and blues create a soothing garden palette, but sometimes they need a little light to wake them up — especially if daylight is waning and more and more time outside is spent between sunset and sunrise. I

Pathway Plantings That Please the Senses

A walkway that strides through grass will certainly get you from point A to point B. But that same path becomes a delightful sensory experience when lined with beautiful plantings. Check out this gallery of ima

Great Design Plant: Periwinkle

Common periwinkle has become quite common indeed. The plant is extremely popular because of its ability to quickly cover the ground with elegant glossy leaves year-round. One plant can cover up to 8 square feet.

Great Design Plant: Donkey Spurge

Donkey Spurge isnt the nicest of names, but the plant is quite pretty in its own quirky way. It is a wonderful gray-green, with a lovely blue tint that blends with everything. The surprise in spring is the lim

Brighten Any Garden With White Crape Myrtle

I have lived in my home for two years, and I still dont know the names of all the plants in my garden. One bush in particular kept eluding me. It is a beautiful white bush, fully grown, with long branches full