As The Garden Museum prepares to open an exhibition on Derek Jarman's work at Prospect Cottage, we revisit an essay by the late gardener and writer Christopher Lloyd, who describes encountering Jarman in his garden in 1990.
Classic art is busting out at the seams! If Michelangelo's famous David was resculpted today by someone who'd recently been to a fast food joint, he just might have conjured up this super-sized fellow! Hand-cast in quality designer resin, complete with a modesty fig leaf for display in-home or garden, there s definitely more to love with this Toscano exclusive! Material: High-Quality Designer Resin Size: 14"W x 9"D x 30"H Weight: 17 lbs. Imported Super-sized David Garden Sculpture
Use these little know gardening tips and techniques to have a 5 times bigger harvest for every plant in your garden. With descriptions and photos.
What is this crazy word you ask?! Well, if your drinks don’t tend to end up in the Tiki spectrum, then you might not be familiar with this cocktail ingredient. OH! But don’t leave us ye…
Dress up your mailbox with plants that will thrive in curbside conditions. For a lush garden, here's 18 low-maintenance mailbox flowers to consider.
The common rosemary is a large evergreen shrub growing with upward growing branches and dense needle-like leaves. Mature and unclipped plants can reach 6-8 ft. high and spread 10-12 ft. across. These leaves are deep green above and whitish below. Showy clusters of small medium blue flowers occur in late winter and intermittently throughout the […]
one of the pictures on web was of an Old Woman's Garden path with fabulous garden stones. Where can we buy these?
45 BEST tutorials, free building plans & design ideas on how to build easy DIY greenhouses, cold frames, backyard garden tunnels & hoops!
lily 1. Gloriosa Climbing Lily Gloriosa Lily Planting: Nothing quite compares to the beauty found in a Gloriosa Lily (Gloriosa superba), and growing a climbing lily plant in the garden is an easy endeavor. Gloriosa Climbing Lilies Gloriosa climbing lilies, also known as flame lilies and glory lilies, thrive in fertile, well-drained soil in full to partial sun. Hardy in USDA plant hardiness zones 10 and 11, they can be overwintered successfully in zone 9 with winter mulch. In colder areas, climbing lilies can be grown successfully during the summer and lifted and stored for the winter. These exotic-looking lilies produce an abundance of yellow and red flowers with petals that curl backward to resemble a flash of brilliant flames. Prepare the soil by tilling to a depth of 8 inches and amending with generous amounts of organic matter such as peat moss, compost or well-rotted manure. The ideal time for Gloriosa lily planting is in the spring after the soil has warmed and all danger of frost has passed. Plant the Gloriosa lily tubers approximately 3 to 4 inches from the trellis. Dig a hole to the depth of 2 to 4 inches and lay the tuber on its side in the hole. Space the tubers 6 to 8 inches apart to allow room for the mature plants to grow. Cover the tubers and gently firm the soil down to remove air pockets and secure the tubers. Gloriosa Climbing Lily Care Water the newly planted tuber to saturate the soil to a depth of 2 to 3 inches to give your Gloriosa climbing lily a good start. Keep the ground evenly moist until shoots appear in two to three weeks. Reduce water to once or twice a week or whenever the soil feels dry an inch below the surface. Fertilize climbing lilies every two weeks with a water-soluble fertilizer designed for flowering plants. This provides the nutrients needed to promote healthy blooming. Cut the vines back in the fall after they are killed by the frost. Tubers can be lifted and stored in moist peat moss in a cool, dark place for the winter and replanted in the spring. 2. Pineapple Lily Pineapple lilies are in the genus Eucomis and include a wide range of tropical plants native to warm moist regions of the world. A little-known fact about pineapple lilies is that they are actually related to asparagus. Both plants are in the Lily family. Pineapple lily plants grow from bulbs. These interesting bulbs start out as a rosette and do not usually start blooming for a year. Then annually, the plants produce the pineapple-shaped flowers from July to August. Some varieties carry a faint, unpleasant scent. The bulb is actually comprised of many tiny little flowers clustered together in a cone shape. The colors vary but are usually white, cream or flecked with violet. The pineapple lily has pointed spear-like leaves and a flowering stem that rises above the plant. How to Grow a Pineapple Lily Flower Growing pineapple lilies is easy. In zones of 9 or below, start them in pots and then transplant them outdoors after the danger of frost has passed. Plant the bulbs in well-prepared soil with excellent drainage. Work in a few inches of compost or leaf litter to increase the tilth and nutrient content of the planting bed. Dig holes 6 to 12 inches deep, every 6 inches. Place the bulbs in full sun in spring once soils have warmed to 60 F. (16 C.). Growing pineapple lilies in a deep container will help you save the bulbs. Move the containers indoors when temperatures drop in fall. 3. Golden Lycoris The Lycoris bulb will indeed surprise you if you are not familiar with her ways. Lycoris first presents a lush display of draping foliage, similar to that of the daffodil. A closer look reveals rounded leaf tips on attractive arching leaves. Just when you expect buds to develop, the foliage dies back, and the unaware gardener can feel robbed. The Lycoris flower that will bloom from July to August. Lycoris squamigera appears quickly atop a sturdy stem called a scape. Scapes rise suddenly from the soil and bear clusters of six to eight of the showy, pink Lycoris flower. Scapes reach 1 to 2 feet, and fragrant blooms of the Lycoris flower last for several weeks. Tips for Growing Lycoris Plant Lycoris bulbs in a full sun location for fullest bloom. Plant Lycoris bulbs with the tip just below soil level, more deeply in colder areas. From the Amaryllis family, the Lycoris squamigera bulb is the coldest hardy of the family and grows in USDA gardening zones 5-10. Plan long-term placement of the Lycoris bulb, as it does not like to be disturbed once planted. The Lycoris flower is not a drought-resistant specimen and will benefit from regular watering unless dormant. Dormancy occurs in winter and between foliage die back to bloom time in spring to summer. Do not fertilize Lycoris bulb soon after planting; wait for a month or so to avoid burning the newly forming roots. Two different fertilizers benefit the Lycoris flower and foliage; one which is high in potassium in late autumn followed by a nitrogen-rich fertilizer in early spring. This encourages growth in foliage, thereby encouraging bigger blooms of the Lycoris flower. 4. Royal Robe Giant Calla Lily How to Grow Giant Calla Lillies A native of South Africa, giant calla lilies are often called white giant calla lilies or even Hercules calla lilies, but they are not, in fact, a member of the lily family. There are 28 different species of the calla lily, including the wedding favorite, the giant calla lily. The giant calla lily (Zantedeschia aethiopica. Select a cooler environment, preferably one where the plant can live below 70 degrees. Giant white calla lilies thrive in cooler, well-lit environments. To plant by seed, sow seeds in the spring in a seeding flat in the well-draining potting soil. Insert seeds to a depth of 0.5 inches and cover with potting soil. Keep the seeding flat in a warm location (80 degrees) and the soil moist. Transfer to larger containers after seedlings sprout. To plant rhizomes, fill a container with standard well-draining potting soil, which will contain enough nutrients to feed the growing plant. Use a pH soil tester and amend as necessary to ensure the potting mix contains a pH of 5.5 to 6.5. Bury rhizomes 4 to 6 inches deep, gently firming potting material. Water well, then apply a small amount of fungicide. Keep soil moist at all times but ensure adequate drainage. Giant calla lilies do well in a semi-aquatic environment, but standing water can lead to fungal and bacterial infections. Fertilize weekly after sprouts appear. 5. Emily McKenzie Crocosmia Growing crocosmia flowers in the landscape produce masses of sword-shaped foliage and brightly colored blooms. Crocosmias are members of the Iris family. Originally from South Africa, the name comes from the Greek words for “saffron” and “smell.” Learning how to plant crocosmia bulbs can give your garden dimension and sunrise colors of red, orange and yellow, and the funnel-shaped blooms have a subtle scent that increases when they are dried. Crocosmia Plants Crocosmia blooms are produced on slender stems of 2 feet or more in length. The flowers appear in May or June and the plant will keep producing all summer. Crocosmia flowers make excellent cut flowers for indoor arrangements. These plants are hardy in USDA Zones 5 to 9. Corms differ from bulbs by the lack of rings on the interior but otherwise function in a similar manner. Crocosmias prefer slightly acidic soil. Make sure the garden bed is nutrient rich and well-drained, but lightly moist. Plant the corms in spring about 6 to 8 inches apart at a depth of 3 to 5 inches. Plant them in clusters for maximum effect. The corms will naturalize, or produce offsets, over time. Plant crocosmias in full to part sun for best results. Crocosmia Bulb Care Once planted, little is needed in the way of crocosmia bulb care. The corms are hardy and rarely need to be lifted for winter except in areas below USDA Zone 5. In these areas, plant them in pots and then move the pots to a sheltered location for winter storage. You can also dig them up, dry the bulb and store where temperatures are moderate over the freezing period. 6. Orange Candle Flower Arum can be grown year round but is ideal during the winter and early spring months. Arrow-shaped leaves arrive in spring, then later in early summer, you'll see spikes of bright orange berries. Foliage then appears to finish out the season. With its speckled arrow-shaped leaves and orange "seed pod" flowers, you will definitely have a unique plant in your gardens and containers. The Orange Candleflower grow from root-like bulbs, called tubers. They produce the largest leaves in partially shaded sites. They will become 10 to 15 inches tall. The plants produce a jack in the pulpit, like flower in early spring. They then produce orange / red berries into the summer. The majority of the foliage will appear in the fall. In warmer areas, zone 6 south, the foliage should die back in the spring when the plant's flower. In colder zones 4 & 5, the foliage will die back in the winter, but the roots should shoot new flowers in the spring. It helps to winter mulch the plants in colder climates. The plants will multiply every year and have a slow growth rate. The Orange Candleflower can also multiply by seed. Perennial in Zones 5 - 9. Arum italicum
We hope these backyard landscaping photos give you some great ideas. Back yard landscaping is all about what "you" want.
Cutting down the trunk doesn’t mean your troubles are over. These two methods for how to kill tree roots will help you regain your yard.
It's not too late to plant tulip bulbs! Learn how to plant tulip bulbs in winter from The Old Farmer's Almanac.
Ready to grow your own food but not sure where to start? This helpful guide on how to start a garden for beginners goes over everything you need to know.
See how to plan a garden this winter so that you can grow some or nearly all of your groceries next spring, summer and fall!
Learn more about the benefits of polyculture farming for gardeners and companion planting and grow your best vegetable garden.
“The man who has planted a garden feels that he has done something for the good of the world.” – Vita Sackville-West I really enjoy visiting beautiful gardens like Thomas Jefferso…
2017 is the centennial of the Victory Garden. While many of us have heard this term before, some may not be overly familiar with what it really means. So let’s all take a brief history lesson on the Victory Garden. And after strolling down Memory Lane, you may find yourself longing to start your own Victory Garden. So we'll help you get started by highlighting our most popular gardening posts at the end of this article. So keep reading! One hundred years ago, the European nations were engulfed in World War I. Many farmers joined or were recruited for military service. Their produce fields then became battlefields. As a result, a dire food crisis emerged throughout Europe. Someone needed to feed the starving people, and America took up the call. In March of 1917, the National War Garden Commission was founded. It encouraged all Americans to use whatever ground was available to them to plant and harvest their own fruits and vegetables. The produce of America’s farmers was then exported to our allies in need overseas. The effort was a resounding success! This was in no small part thanks to the propaganda campaigns pushing civilians to “Sow the Seeds of Victory” and to be “Soldiers of the Soil”. Materials distributed by the US government offered advice to the citizenry on: how, when, where, and what to grow how to ward off unwanted insect infestations how to preserve surplus crops through canning and/or drying All these combined efforts resulted in 3 million new garden plots started in 1917. That number raised to a whopping 5.2 million by the following year. There was an estimated 1.45 million quarts of fruits and vegetables canned. By the end of WWI, the Victory Garden push by the United States government died out. But it was resurrected once the country was drawn into WWII. By 1942, the US had instituted the Food Rationing Program. This gave citizens even more incentive to provide for themselves with home grown fruits and vegetables. By 1944, an estimated 8 million tons of food was produced by Americans’ home Victory Gardens. This made up more than 40% of all the fresh produce consumed in the United States. The end of WWII saw the push for Victory Gardens come to a close, once again. But in recent years there has been an uptick in the resurgence of them. The War Gardens in public parks from the early 20th century were reborn as Community Gardens. Neighbors can feel an increased sense of community and stewardship of the land. Along with this rebirth of a shared gardening experience came the resurgence of saving and sharing seeds. Seed saving maintains the best tasting heirloom produce for the dinner table. Print our FREE Printable Seed Saver Packets and start saving seeds today! Today, there is an increased desire for sustainable living. People are passionate about organic agriculture and knowing where their food comes from. Saving money, emergency food preparedness, and a self-sufficiency lifestyle are more increasingly important. These goals can be met and better controlled through the “DIY, grow your own” mentality. Off to the 21st Century Victory Garden we go! Label your canned goods victoriously with our Garden for Victory canning labels FUN FACT: In June of 1917, President Woodrow Wilson appointed Herbert Hoover to head the US Food Administration. It was tasked with managing America’s food reserves. Hoover urged the US people to produce more, consume less, and live simply. Propaganda posters for this effort read “Feed a Fighter: Eat only what you need. Waste Nothing, that he and his family may have enough.” Due in large part to Hoover’s actions, America avoided mandatory rationing during the first World War. This decrease in consumption came to be known as “Hooverizing”. Add Waste Not Want Not canning labels to your victory garden food jars Shop our entire Victory Garden Canning Label Collection. If you want to start your own Victory Garden, we have plenty of helpful resources on our blog. Read some of our most popular gardening posts to help ensure your garden is a success. Learn how to make your own potting soil mix to save money. The right soil mix is needed to grow perfect carrots. Learn more on our blog post: Planting Carrots in Containers with Homemade Potting Soil Recipe Do you have long, leggy, or crooked tomato seedlings? Learn how to plant them so they grow big and strong! Learn more on our blog post: Trench Planting Tomatoes for Epic Root Growth & Strong Plants & read all of our Tomato Growing Tips. Want to grow a bumper crop of tomatoes? Who doesn’t? You might be surprised to learn that a simple tomato staking method will produce prolific tomato plants. Learn more on our blog post: Grow Prolific Tomatoes Using Japanese Rings Method. If you had a banner year for tomatoes, you may want to repeat your good fortune the following season. There are three methods to saving tomato seeds, but for best results, you need to know the BEST method (spoiler, it can be a little stinky)! Learn more on our blog post: How to Save Tomato Seeds. As anyone who’s watched Back to the Future knows, banana peels make terrific fuel. So why not add them as fuel for your garden! That’s right, compost those slimy banana peels and make your little green friends happy! Learn more on our blog post: Banana Peel Fertilizers for the Garden. Think you have a brown thumb and that you can’t grow anything? Well, you’re in luck! Weeds are easy to grow, edible, and nutritious! If you can’t beat ‘em, eat ‘em! Learn more on our blog post: Using Dandelions for Food and Medicine Have you tried growing squash and failed? Did your squash plants just wither up and die one day? Chances are, it wasn’t because you forgot to water them. A loathsome and almost undetectable foe was probably the culprit. And ya know what, he's a real jerk! Learn more on our blog post: Battling the Squash Vine Borer Want to label your Victory Garden plants in style? Make your own plant markers using coat hangers and used canning lids. Learn more on our blog post: DIY Garden Markers with Canning Lids If you're interested in vintage victory garden posters and history, take a look at our Victory Garden Pinterest Board. Suggested Reading List: Grit magazine - “A History of Victory Gardens” Cultivating Victory: The Women's Land Army and the Victory Garden Movement by Cecilia Gowdy-Wygant Fruits of Victory: The Woman's Land Army of America in the Great War by Elaine F. Weiss Victory Gardens for Bees: A DIY Guide to Saving the Bees by Lori Weidenhammer Download our FREE Printable Canning Inventory Chart. Sign up for our newsletter to get free printables, gardening tips, recipes, product updates, & a 10% off coupon on your first order of canning labels in our shop.
Fun + colorful plants for kids to grow in a children's garden. Try varieties that are different colors than what they are used to eating from the store
Use these little know gardening tips and techniques to have a 5 times bigger harvest for every plant in your garden. With descriptions and photos.
Do you ever wonder why you should bother growing a garden? Here are eight reasons why gardening is good for you and 2 excuses debunked.
The objective of ecological gardening is to create beauty and biodiversity in concert with nature rather than trying to overcome it.
Is gardening worth it financially? This is a question that has been in my home for the past couple of years now. The answer will vary from person to person but my answer is YES! I truly believe that growing my own fruits and vegetables is not only worth my time and money financially
Find the Best Vegetables to Grow in West Virginia with this Ultimate Guide. You'll even learn why you should grow them and how to grow them in West Virginia!
Garden Weeds: Why? Your garden will thrive when you understanding WHY it has weeds. Eliminate them naturally while working with nature. 5 tips to control those pesky weeds. Plus 10 of the most common garden weeds you will find in your garden.
Never plant these veggies together.Planning on vegetable gardening? Keep these gardening tips and tricks in mind! A simple guide to avoid planting the wrong veggies next to each other ever again. Vegetable gardening hacks that you never knew about until now! Ideas to help you grow the perfect vegetables.
Our focus is on the supply of quality and affordable crop protection, crop nutrition, pest control products, and general agricultural consultancy.
What is this crazy word you ask?! Well, if your drinks don’t tend to end up in the Tiki spectrum, then you might not be familiar with this cocktail ingredient. OH! But don’t leave us ye…
Companion planting is a popular cropping system that is practiced by a lot of farmers. It is an effective method to control pests in vegetable garden.
Companion Planting is a mystical growth enhancer; why would planting certain crops together have this beneficial effect?
These days more and more talk (and write) about permaculture gardens. Many believe that this should be a solution for "lazy gardeners" and that such gardens are pure chaos. What is true? And what is permaculture?
10 best gifts for gardeners - Looking for the perfect gift for the gardener in your life? Gardening gift ideas handpicked for gardeners by a gardener.
If you’ve been contemplating whether to start a vegetable garden this spring, then you’re in the right place. Trust me, this is one of those projects you will never regret. Starting a vegetable garden has easily been the one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Starting this vegetable
Have you ever tried planting a vegetable garden? What about a Square Foot Garden? An easy way to protect your plants, improve flavor, and enhance production is through companion planting. Companion planting is easy for beginner gardners and will make your garden look and smell great! Grab your free printable at the end of the post! #gardeningforbeginners #vegetablegarden #ourhappyhive
During World War II, people needed to help ease the nation's burden by growing as much of their own food as possible in what they called Victory Gardens. Here's how they did it!
