Chickweed is a typical weed found in landscapes. It makes a great base for the salad. The flowers, base, and stems are all edible. When the flowers are in full bloom, it is at its best state for eating. It tastes a lot like spinach. Redbud trees are native and … Read More
You don’t need a greenhouse to propagate your favorite perennial. All you need is a small cutting, rooting medium, rooting compound, and a plastic bag. The four main types of stem cuttings are herbaceous, softwood, semi-hardwood, and hardwood. The terms reflect the growth stage of the plant. This is the … Read More
There are many interpretations of what is a native plant. A simple definition is a native plant is one that was growing in the region before European settlement. A problem with this definition is there is no way of knowing for sure what was growing here 400 years ago. The … Read More
The Shelton Herb Farm is not your typical century farm. A century farm means it has been in the same family for over 100 years. The farm has been in the Goodman family since 1867. Margaret Shelton acquired ownership of farm from her great-grandmother, after whom Shelton is named. Since … Read More
Fresh mulch looks great in a landscape. It’s a lot of effort toting bags and spreading it. Woodchip mulch is flammable. Fire-wise communities discourage the use of mulch adjacent to homes. Groundcovers are low maintenance and low flammability. These native groundcovers are a good alternative to mulch. Groundcovers for Sun … Read More
February is a time to fantasize about this year’s garden. I enjoy looking at newly arrived seed catalogs and hoping that this is the year my garden will look like that. My hopes are seldom fulfilled. Here are few tips to get your garden off to a good start. Discard … Read More
Why wait for spring to enjoy beautiful blooms when you can trick bulbs into thinking it’s spring. Forcing bulbs to bloom indoors is very simple. Most bulbs require a cooling period to make the bulb experience winter conditions. During this time the roots begin to form and the stem begins … Read More
Winter is here and gone are the beautiful summer and fall flowers. All that is left are evergreens. Cool-weather flowering plants can add color to your landscape. Here are a few colorful plants to consider for your landscape. Pansy (Viola x wittrockiana) is an annual plant that comes in many … Read More
Composting is typically done in a barrel or bin. The containers tend to be bulky, unsightly, and require periodic turning. Trench composting is a great alternative to bins and barrels. Trench composting is simple. Just dig a trench or any shape hole approximately 12 inches deep, add roughly four to … Read More
This is my favorite time for gardening and I never have to leave my recliner. I enjoy looking through seed catalogs and dreaming about that fantasy garden with no weeds or insects, just ripe vegetables waiting to be picked. There are things to do now to get ready for that … Read More