Bold, bright and colorful, Coleus adds instant pizzazz to garden and container plantings. A summertime favorite, this hearty annual is prized for its lush, colorful, textured foliage. Available in a wide variety of exuberant colors ranging from lime green to brilliant fuchsia to deep chocolate, Coleus is most often used as a bridge plant to tie together garden flowers with clashing colors. Coleus also performs beautifully as both an attention-getter and backdrop for other plants. Its thick, cushiony leaves add desirable texture to mixed garden plantings and container groupings. Available in a variety of sizes from tiny minis suitable for terrarium plantings to large plants that can reach the size of small bushes at maturity, Coleus is one of the most versatile summer annuals available. ...read more

Container gardens are a wonderful way to add color and a touch of nature to entry areas, patios, decks and balconies. Soil preparation, plant selection and watering are the three keys to successful container gardening.  ...read more

You don’t need a large yard or massive garden beds to create a beautiful garden. You can surround yourself with nature’s beauty by creating a lush oasis or a serene garden retreat in a small space. Small gardens abound in cityscapes where garden space is at a premium, but they can also be a joy for home owners with larger yards. In larger landscapes, small gardens can be used to frame entry areas, showcase prized plants, differentiate outdoor “rooms” or create intimate corners that invite pleasant conversation and quiet reflection. ...read more

Many avid gardeners are chomping at the bit to get planting after having been trapped inside for several months of winter cold.  There are some preparatory steps that you should be ready to focus on prior to diving right into spring planting if you want the most successful and beautiful garden possible though. ...read more

When shopping for plants at your local garden center, you may have noticed a zone number listed on the identification tag. Plant hardiness zones were developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in 1960 to assist farmers in selecting crop plants that would thrive and over-winter successfully in their local area. Each zone indicates the geographic area where climatic conditions are suitable for the successful growth of particular types of plants. Plant growers soon adopted plant hardiness zones as a handy way of indicating to consumers where a particular plant would thrive. ...read more

After the long, gray days of winter, life and color return to the garden each spring as the first green shoots of flowering bulbs push through the earth. Soon the spring garden will be in full bloom: the golden-trumpeted Daffodil (Narcissus) dancing in the breeze, cheerful Tulip (Tulipa) cups adding splotches of bright color, elegant Iris regally unfurling and the jasmine scent of fragrant Hyacinth (Hyacinthus) perfuming the air. But the beauty of the spring garden depends on fall planning and planting.  ...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

Gardening regularly throughout the summer to maintain your plants and flowers can take a toll on your body! Don't let the gardening time you enjoy become a chore. Here are easy and quick ways to enjoy your garden while keeping your body healthy and active all summer long:  ...read more