"spring" yards, pictures, and ideas...
Feed the Earth! A Guide to Composting
If you’ve ever tried to grow a lush, productive vegetable or flower garden in your yard—which you hoped would be the envy of your neighbors—only to have pale, lifeless plants emerge from the earth and struggle to hang on, then you may need to practice composting. ...
The Not-So-Subtle Tropical Plant
Tropical plants are prized for their lush foliage, brilliant flowers and bold, exotic appearance. Typically grown outdoors where winters are mild and humidity is high, their ideal climate and growing conditions can be duplicated almost anywhere by moving them inside near a......
Glamorous Gateways
If you could have any gate in the world in your yard, what would it be? The Brandenburg Gate? The Gates of Cairo? A Stargate? Bill Gates? Unfortunately, most of our gate choices are limited by budget constraints, available space, and the laws of physics....
Pros and Cons of Trees Near Your Outdoor Kitchen
One of the most pleasant aspects of having an outdoor kitchen is being able to spend time in the fresh air. On cool days, it’s also nice to have the sun shining down on you. But most people want some shade over their cooking area to help beat the heat during the prime BBQ season of summer....
Ornamental Potager Garden: The Artistry of Growing Vegetables, Herbs and Flowers
The ornamental potager garden is an attractive mix of vegetables, herbs and flowers growing together in raised beds. Initially developed by French monks, the potager kitchen garden (pronounced poe-ta-zhay) became popular in the 16th century in France....
A Pot For All Seasons (and Reasons)
Potted plants make wonderful additions to the yard right through the year—even in winter. With a small army of pots of various sizes tucked away in the garden shed or behind the garage or barn, you can create a moveable garden of potted plants for each season....
Gardening and Cooking with Lemon-Scented and Lemon-Flavored Herbs
You don’t have to live in a tropical or semi-tropical climate or pay big bucks at the grocery store to enjoy the freshness of lemons. Grow your own lemons this season—lemon-scented and lemon-flavored herbs, that is!...
The Versatile Pot
Give your yard that extra “Ahh!” factor by decorating it with pots of colorful flowers and interesting plants. Not only is “potting up” a quick way to spread color and cheer throughout your yard, it is also a relatively easy way create a spectacular garden in a short time....
Birds, Butterflies and Bats: Welcome Them to Your Garden
With the continued growth in population throughout our country, many wildlife species face increasing pressure from lack of natural habitat—the number one threat to wildlife today. So creating welcoming places for these wonderful creatures in your yard—no matter how small—will help......
The Lure of Lovely Lavender
Those fortunate enough to have walked in a field of lavender and inhaled the heady aroma emanating from the purple waves of the flowering plants will most likely never forget the experience. It could be the beginning of a passionate love affair with this wonderful herb....
