Beautiful bromeliad

Even among all the pineapples flamboyant cousins, Guzmania is especially vibrant. Like all bromeliads, it gets its vivid color not from flowers but from bracts (leaves) that shoot up and hold their brilliance for mo

Spiraea

• Semievergreen• Zones vary• Full sun or partial shade• Regular wateringTwo distinctly different sorts of these easy-to-grow shrubs are commonly planted. The bridal wreath type has long, arching branches that grow f

Oregano (Origanum)

A perennial herb that grows best in Zones 1-24, 30-45, oregano is popular in Italian, Greek, and Spanish cooking. Use its leaves fresh or dried. Many kinds are available; of these, Greek oregano is considered one of

Parsley (Petroselinum)

Flat or curly green leaves grow in clumps. Flat-leafed types grow 2 to 3 feet tall, curly types to 1 foot. Biennial often grown as an annual. All zones.BEST CULINARY VARIETIES: Giant Italian is best for cooking; the

Heathers that glow in frosty weather

In the Pacific Northwest, Scotch heather (Calluna vulgaris) is widely appreciated for delicate flowers that appear from midsummer to early autumn. Then, with the onset of frosty weather, many varieties of heather pu

Holiday blooms

Narcissus bulbs planted in a paint can will brighten someones life for weeks.1. Cover a 1-quart paint can (about $1 at hardware stores) with wrapping paper, securing the seam with double-stick tape.2. Guided by the

Japanese maples

Its hard to miss Japanese maples in autumn; clear skies and cold nights paint their leaves with flaming hues of gold, orange, red, and yellow. Because these airy, delicate trees love mild summers and cool winters, t

Weave a leafy tapestry

By carefully composing conifers that have contrasting foliage colors and forms, Ralph Hastings and his late partner, Holly Turner, created a magnificent evergreen screen behind a garden bench.Started 15 years ago, t

Vibrant Coleus

Few foliage plants prompt as much conversation as coleus. With new and more vibrant varieties hitting the market each year, its hard not to find at least one that will fit into your garden.Colors: Coleus comes in a

Lilac (Syringa)

• Deciduous• Climate zones vary• Full sun or partial shade• Regular wateringThese multistemmed shrubs are cherished for the showy, usually fragrant flowers that cluster at their stem tips. While their foliage and ov

Create a bouquet of dahlias

Step-by-step:  How to make a bridal bouquetWhat dahlias lack in fragrance they more than make up for in deep, rich color or in eye-catching frills, splashes, or stripes.The best plants for bouquets have long, strong

Plant a country garden--in buckets

Change your planting containers, and your approach to planting may change. Thats what happened recently at M&M Nursery in Orange, when designers planted seasonal color in galvanized tin buckets and tubs instead

How deep to plant?

PLANT DEPTH AVERAGE HEIGHT SPACINGAcidanthera 3 inches 3 feet 3-6 inches apartCalla (hybrids) 2 inches 1 1/2 feet 8-12 inches apartCrocosmia 3 inches 3 feet 3 inches apartDahlia (small) 4 inches 2 feet 1-2 feet apar

Planting for birds and butterflies

Winged wildlife look for the same things in a garden that people seek in a B&B: good food and drink, a bath, and a cozy place to bed down for the night. Provide these amenities, and birds and butterflies will fl

Heavenly bamboo (Nandina domestica)

• Evergreen• Climate zones 4-33• Full sun, partial shade, or full shade• Regular wateringFine-textured, narrow leaflets on lightly branched, canelike stems give this shrub the look of bamboo. It grows slowly to 6 to

A sampler of 12 common garden herbs

BASIL (Ocimum basilicum)Sometimes referred to as the king of herbs (the name is derived from basileus, which is Greek for king), basil has fragrant, bright green leaves on 6-inch- to 2-foot-tall plants. Annual. All

Easy daffodils

Daffodils masses of vibrant blooms atop slender stems are one of the most welcome signs that spring is on its way. These cheery bulbs need no chilling ― just bury them in the soil and wait for them to brighten your

Pansy, Viola (Viola)

 • Cool-season• Annual• Full sun or partial shade• Regular wateringPansy (V. wittrockiana) has 2- to 4-inch flowers in white, blue, mahogany red, rose, yellow, apricot, and purple; the petals are often striped or bl

Rustling roses

It may sound like a shady business, but its one of the most satisfying ― and innocent ― practices a rose aficionado can follow.This kind of rustling involves taking stem cuttings from old roses in order to propagate

Spots of sunshine

Have you ever looked skyward to see a break in the clouds with sunlight streaming through, then followed that stream with your eyes to find its golden light bathing a spot in your garden? Sunlight makes plants shimm