Kristine Lofgren

We all have those spots in the garden that defy our attempts to cultivate them. And that’s where junipers come in.These evergreen shrubs are the ones that we perpetually

Chrysanthemums are more than just a pretty face. We love these plants for their colorful pom poms that last all summer long, but underneath that cheery facade lies a killer.Of insects, that is.We link to vendors to help

Bleeding hearts are such unique flowers. There’s nothing like them out there, with their heart-shaped, pendulous blossoms.Plus, they’re wildly popular because

Mention rose rosette disease or that your prize specimen has an unusual witches’-broom growing on it to another rose lover, and you’ll likely see a look of horror.Just the mere mention of this disease or its common symptoms i

It’s always a smart idea to grow plants that are suited to your climate. You’re working with Mother Nature rather than against her.But there are some cases where I just don’t care what’

Ferns are smart. Their reproductive strategy is to just flood the world with their spores.Each frond can relea

There are lots of ways to propagate roses, from grafting to saving seeds.Propagating stem cuttings in water ha

When I say “persimmon,” what do you think of?Perhaps you once bit into an underripe

Some plants are often regarded as short-lived wonders in North American gardens, sticking around for a good time but not a long one. And chrysanthemums are one of those plants.We buy them by the bushelful i

Snapdragons are one of those varieties of plants that are a staple in summer gardens.Home stores, grocery stores

The idea of gardening with the moon is an ancient one. People have been doing it for as long as we’ve kept records about gardening.Websites offer advice on which part of the lunar c

You know how snake plants are super forgiving and simple to care for?They’re just as easy to pro

Chrysanthemums have earned their reputation as tough, maintenance-free flowers for the home garden and they’re extremely popular for this reason.If you want bright color without a lot of work or worry a

Snapdragons have come a long way in the past 100 years. Prior to the 1950s, the plants were mostly short, with stumpy stalks and muted flower colors.There was nothing like the variety of heights and

Tunnels and cold frames can only get you so far.If you really want to extend your growing season and incr

Like humans, there are some plants that come alive in the dead of winter and then there are some that need a little something extra to get through the cold months.Rhododendrons, like yours truly, nee

For years, lemon verbena has been valued for its incredible fragrance and medicinal uses, and some people regularly enjoy it in tea.But I think this humble woody herb deserves a lot more love than

It loves chilly weather, is essential for making kimchi, and isn’t as fussy as some other brassicas. Say “hello” to napa cabbage.Also known as Chinese cabbage, this plant is perfect for growing when man

My grandma would make dolls out of the hollyhocks that grew in her front yard, turning the large blossoms into skirts for her new companions.She taught us to do the same thin

Once upon a time, a young boy discovered a passion for roses while corresponding with a pen pal in Spain for a school project.That boy went on to become

The term “rose mosaic” may sound like a good thing. Maybe you imagine it denoting an artistic way to display particularly pretty blossoms, for example. But boy are you in for a surprise if this sounds like you.Rose mosaic sucks. It does cause some interesting pattern

As the summer fades, so do many of the beautiful floral displays we’ve come to enjoy.Sure, we have fall foliage, sunny chrysanthem

You head outside to enjoy your garden when you spot it: something has turned your beautiful camellias into a terrible scene straight out of a horror movie.The leaves of your shrub are totally bla

You know the saying: Location, location, location!As is the case with choosing a house, of all the decisio

For a tough plant that thwarts hungry deer, marauding rabbits, swarms of aphids, and even most diseases, heather has a delicate beauty all its own.While it comes from regions that sport some pretty inhospitable environments, h

Many people in the US are most familiar with the purple passionflower, with its purple petals and corona, topped with yellow anthers and stamens.In Europe, growers love the similar-looking bluecrown passionf

Some plants get all the attention, with their massive flowers or bold foliage colors. Then there are the humble workhorses doing their job without any fuss or muss, making our lives easier and our gardens prettier.Sedges are one such plant. For the most part, they’re nearl

With their delicate flowers and lacy foliage, you might assume that bleeding hearts are super fragile and prone to diseases. But, as the saying goes, you can’t judge a book by its cover, and these plants are actually surprisingly resilient.In general, they’re just not bothered by insect pests, dis

There are a lot of reasons to love bleeding hearts, but being relatively uninteresting to pests is one of the best.Maybe they taste bad or something? I’ll have to

If one bleeding heart is marvelous, a dozen are even better! If you aren’t fabulously wealthy, or you just love a gardening challenge, then learning how to propagate these cottage staples is a nice skill to have in your back pocket.But I’ll let you in on a little secret: it doesn’t e

Quick, picture a black-eyed Susan. I bet you imagined a daisy-like yellow flower with a black center, right?It’s true, black-eyed Susans don’t have the variability that something like ros

I know what you’re thinking: yet another thing you have to do to take care of your roses?! Isn’t all the pruning, deadheading, pest control, and disease prevention enough?!Don’t worry, this task is easy and not everyone

Greenhouses are invaluable if you want to be able to keep the growing season going for longer throughout the year than Mother Nature typically allows.While all the fancy additions like heat and supplemen

Close your eyes and picture the flora of fall. What comes to mind?There’s probably an overgrown pu

While David Austin may have set the standard for modern rose growers, Knock Out roses totally changed the landscape.Those of you who remember gardens in the ‘80s

Swiss chard is exceptionally beautiful on top of being delicious, which makes it doubly frustrating when the leaves turn up with unsightly holes or yellowing leaves.When pests attack, you need to take s