Lilies in all their beautiful forms are a mainstay of summer gardens. Blooming from early summer through late fall, these colorful perennials with the trumpet-shaped flowers are a carefree garden choice. Highly adaptable and extremely hardy, lilies can be found blooming everywhere from dank roadside ditches to the world’s most beautiful gardens. Lilies typically prefer sunny locations but will also bloom in partial shade. They prefer soils that are evenly moist but will generally survive bouts of drought or soggy weather without damage.  ...read more

Small garden spaces can be expanded by using containers to create additional planting areas or by using trellises to make use of vertical space. When planting small gardens, select plants that will provide multi-season displays, and consider foliage as well as flowers. Plants that flower, such as Heuchera, commonly known as Coral Bells, and Hosta, or Plantain Lily, provide beautiful foliage from spring through fall.  ...read more

Jack Frost has finally danced his chilly fingers through the garden gate and blown his frozen breath over those hardy late bloomers. The first frost turns gardens into a magical fairy land. Heuchera, also known as coral bells, acquire an icy white rim, and Asters appear to have been dipped in diamond dust, so brightly do they sparkle in the first rays of the sun. Unfortunately, the magic doesn’t last long. Heat from the rising sun quickly melts those frosty crystals, leaving behind a sodden mess.  ...read more

Garden centers at local stores are setting up their bulb displays, encouraging gardeners to start planning spring gardens. After a long, dreary winter, spring-flowering tulips, daffodils and other bulbs are a cheerful harbinger of the fragrant annuals and perennials to come. ...read more