I’ve had a common clivia since 1992 or 1993. I got it from Cathy Peachey, who died of breast cancer in 1994. She had three coffee and pastry shops in Indianapolis and I used to go ...
Ice melts and other potential hazards in the landscape
As we head into winter, there are a few landscape safety tips to keep in mind. Start with using caution with deicers or ice melts. Many of these products are salt-based, which is ...
Get holiday plants ready for their prime time
In some stores, Christmas decorations are as prominent as Halloween candy. We can use retailers’ jump on the holidays as a reminder to begin the process of getting our holiday ...
You Can Grow That: Paperwhites
Less expensive than Amaryllis and just as rewarding for holiday blooms are paperwhites, a narcissus that does not need a cold period to bloom and perfume the room. Paperwhites are ...
Fall colors take my breath away
Fall has been spectacular this year in my yard. The colors make me swoon. Here are my favorites: Brandywine viburnum I’ve had Brandywine viburnum (V. nudum ‘Bulk’) for ...
Plant garlic in fall for a summer harvest
When thinking about planting tulips, daffodils and other spring-blooming bulbs, consider adding garlic to the list. Fall-planted garlic is harvested the following summer. Avoid ...
Raccoons dig grubs
Three readers sent me photos of their lawns with gouged soil and I observed this condition in several landscapes when on my walks this fall. Blame raccoons. They dig up the turf ...
Osage orange fruits can be fun…and hazardous
Poison isn't the only way plants can kill you. Take the legendary osage orange, aka hedge apple (Maclura pomifera). Orange, apple and pomifera make it sound all fruity doesn’t it? ...
Cracked, dry soil signals need for water
Everyone I’ve talked to lately says the same thing. “We need some rain.” Ok. We got some rain Sunday night. About one-half inch, according to my rain gauge. But the ground is ...
Houseplants: Easier care than pets or kids
Like a lot of people, my first introduction to gardening was houseplants. Those of us who came through the 1970s remember windows adorned with grape ivy, Boston ferns, and macramé. ...