Brighter bells

This new million bells (Calibrachoa) hybrid is similar to the popular Terra Cotta variety in many ways: same long, steady bloom cycle ― from spring to frost ― and same upright, mounding shape. It, too, drops its spe

Desert meets the beach

A garden that looks lush year-round yet requires minimal maintenance: Thats what artist Charlene Bonney and her husband, Frederick Menslage, created on a gentle slope facing Moonlight State Beach and the ocean. Thei

Dwarf plumbago (Ceratostigma plumbaginoides)

Ground cover• Deciduous perennial• Zones 2-10, 14-24, 29-41• Full sun or partial shade• Moderate waterVivid blue flowers bloom from midsummer to midautumn, carried at the ends of wiry 6- to 12-inch stems. Bronzy gre

Dill (Anethum graveolens)

AnnualAll zonesFull sunInfrequent waterThe fresh or dried leaves and the seeds of this versatile annual herb are a popular seasoning for many foods ― including, of course, dill pickles. The plants grow 3 to 4 feet h

Japanese spurge (Pachysandra terminalis)

• Evergreen shrubby ground cover• Zones 1-10, 14-21, 31-43• Full shade• Regular waterWidely used as an elegant ground cover under trees, Japanese spurge forms an even, 10-inch-high carpet of shiny dark green leaves.

Characteristics to consider

The maples you see at the nursery will change as the season progresses. The following pointers will acquaint you with the characteristics of different trees.Leaves often start out infused with red or purple, fade to

Unsung beauties

• Bells-of-Ireland (Moluccella laevis). Columns of apple green bells on long stems. Unusual color and shape; long bloom season. Flowers are also handsome when dried; the best drying method is right in the vase.• Cle

Color Islands

Soon after moving from semitropical Louisiana to semi-arid Park City, Utah, Anne and Steve Guenard realized that a water-intensive lawn just didnt make sense. They quickly embraced low-water gardening practices. To

Blazing colors

A bonfire of flower spikes and emberlike petals makes for a red-hot pairing in winter. The orange spires in Patrick Andersons garden are Aloe ferox; just behind it is a coral tree (Erythrina x sykesii) that blooms f

Fresh landscaping ideas for agaves and yuccas

With their bold structures and textures, agaves and yuccas look right at home in cactus gardens, but how do you use them in other landscape situations such as a perennial border, a Mediterranean-style courtyard, or

Plant a little catmint for kitty

Few perennials are as reliable and versatile as catmint (Nepeta x faassenii). Equally at home in a cottage garden or a formal border, catmint grows 1 foot tall and 2 to 3 feet wide.This hybrid forms a mound of sage

Sensational sweet peas

Aside from being beautiful and giving off a powerful perfume thats quintessentially spring, sweet peas are super easy to grow from seed. And with types that are ideal for cutting, growing in hanging baskets, plantin

Flowering plum, peach, nectarine, and cherry trees (Prunus)

Prunus Quick Facts:DeciduousClimate zones varyFull sunRegular to moderate waterGrowth rate varies These flowering trees ― all members of the same genus ― are valued for their showy springtime bloom; most also have a

Sweetheart bouquets

Whats your valentines pleasure? Long-stemmed red roses from the florist? Camellia blossoms or branches of sweetly scented Chinese witch hazel (Hamamelis mollis) from your garden? Or your own mix-and-match arrangemen

American sweet gum (Liquidambar styraciflua)

• Deciduous• Zones 3-9, 14-37, 39• Full sun• Regular water• Growth rate: moderate to fastNarrow and erect when young, this tree becomes more rounded with age. It eventually reaches 60 to 75 feet tall. Spread is usua

Sweet autumn clematis, Clematis terniflora (C. dioscorefolia, C. maximowiczianz, C. paniculata)

Vines• Semievergreen• Zones 3-9, 14-24, 26, 28-41• Full sun for tops, partial shade for roots• Regular watering• Climbs by: coiling LeafstalksSweet autumn clematis is covered with billowy masses of extremely fragran

Ideas for sweet peas

BouquetsThe best sweet peas for cutting have richly scented medium to large flowers and long, strong stems. Pictured is Pastel Sunset (from Renees Garden, see RG in sources below), a new blend in creamy sherbet colo

Calibrachoa, the petunia look-alike

They look like small petunias, and for years thats what many botanists thought they were. More recently Calibrachoa came to be recognized as a separate genus. This plant spreads and mounds like petunias, but its 1-i

Hummingbird trumpet

Hummingbirds stick to a liquid diet, drawing nourishment from the nectar of flowers. One shrubby perennial is so popular with these hyperactive birds, its commonly called hummingbird trumpet. Indeed, when Zauschneri

Greens to envy

Keep the color scheme basic: Thats the easiest way to create impact in your garden. The planting pictured at left displays various leaf textures and shapes, but relies on just two hues ― lime green and red ― for a c