Kristine Lofgren

If you want to see a rose gardener cry, all you have to do is say these two words: black spot.Sooner or later, it seems like everyone who raises roses will

Get ready to meet a plant that is a true delight to the senses. Scented geraniums taste delicious, smell wonderful, and they look pretty in the garden. They’re truly multi-talented ornamentals.Also called rose geraniums, sweet geraniums, or old f

A field of bachelor’s buttons is a dazzling delight, especially when those vibrant heads are nodding lazily in the breeze. But sometimes that nodding can go a little bit too far, and you might find those fabulous flower heads falling right over.Bachelor’s button flowers (which are technically what is k

Ornamental cherries are celebrated with festivals and parades, gifted from one country to another, and cherished in gardens. They’re arguably the queens of the spring flowering trees.Once you plant one in your garden, there will be no question as to

Impatiens are incredibly, amazingly popular. I challenge you to walk into a nursery or home goods store during the spring or summer and not find at least one flat of them.But these plants are primarily used in shaded areas, leaving

There’s something special about yellow roses. After all, the famous folk song isn’t called “The Cream Rose of Texas.”With their sunny coloring, yellow roses somehow manage to be dram

Roses are some of the most popular ornamentals for a good reason: They’re stunning. When they’re healthy, that is.But if you grow roses long enough, you’ll ine

Most practitioners I know think pruning and shaping is the most fun part of the art of bonsai. It’s certainly the most creative.It’s the time when you play an active role

A healthy Japanese maple is a sight to behold.They’re some of the most frequently

It’s about time juniper berries got the attention they deserve.These common plants grow all over the Norther

There are certain distinctive flavors that define regional cuisine for me.I can’t even imagine my favori

All Japanese maples are gorgeous, but let’s be honest – it’s the red ones that really stand out in the garden.We link to vendors to help you find relevant pro

Simply put, Japanese maple bonsai is breathtaking.I’d argue that they’re even more

I love roses, I really do.But every so often, as I’m battling a stupid b

Part of what makes irises so fabulous as a collection of flowers is also what makes them a bit challenging. Namely, there are just so darn many excellent options out there.First off, there are hundreds of species, w

A healthy, well-trained climbing rose in full bloom is one of the most magnificent things to behold in the garden.Not only can these plants

The occasional pejorative use of the term “fig leaf” is wholly undeserved.The leaves of the fig tree (Ficus carica) are quite love

Junipers aren’t as forgiving as some plants when it comes to pruning. Do the job the wrong way and you’ll end up with an ugly skeleton of a shrub with bald spots and bare branches.On the bright side, junipers don’t

Some trends just make sense. Consider the fact that ponytail palms are popping up in more and more places as bonsai.One look at their eye-catching trunks that r

Chamomile is a marvelous medicinal herb with beautiful blooms. But let’s be honest: it can be a bit boisterous in the garden.It’s one of those plants that you

It’s easy to see why hostas are some of the most popular perennials on the market. They’re practically foolproof to grow; come in a massive array of sizes, patterns, and colors; and can adapt to a range of conditions.Yes, they are beloved for their foliage, but they also send u

Any plant is going to do better in the long term if it has the ideal setup to begin with, and this is particularly true for roses.Given that a rose plant will likely be with y

Lately, I’ve been looking for a way to perk my salads up a bit.Don’t get me wrong, I love a good salad, but there are days wh

If you want to keep your plants alive, there are a few things you have to do: give them light, feed them now and then, and – of course – water them.Watering seems pretty straigh

For a cool-season crop, it’s pretty hard to beat beets.They’re quick to grow, and you can have a harvest in six weeks,

If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me if roses are a pain in the butt to keep alive, I’d be sleeping on a mountain of cash.My answer is that it doesn’t have to be

Peas can be teases.You walk past the garden and take

You’ve probably heard that juniper berries are edible. Or at least… you’ve heard the fruits from some species are?Or maybe they’re only palatable at

Normally, when roots start coming out of the pot, you know it’s time to upgrade to a bigger container.It’s a sign that your plant has outgrown its c

Clematis plants have been on a bit of a rollercoaster when it comes to their reputation. And these vines don’t love being transplanted.In the Victorian era, they were a

Once you’ve tackled growing a beginner bonsai, you might be looking for more of a challenge.Maybe one that is not only a beautiful de

Pretty much all of us have bought or received a potted orchid at some point, only to abandon it when the blooms have faded. Or at least we know someone who has.When we grow them as houseplants,

Cauliflower may not seem like the perfect plant for a container garden. But think again.Thanks to its compact shape and sha

If you’ve ever tried to disentangle the many different categories of roses, you know it can be a bit, erm, confusing.Not to get too into the wee

Coneflowers are the ultimate triple threat. They add beauty to the garden, can be used as food and medicine, and are about as unfussy as they come.It makes sense, then, that this popular perennial has transitioned from a hu

You know how sometimes you have a plant that just seems to do exceptionally well in your garden? Or you fall in love with a neighbor’s rose bush? Or maybe a rose you love is entering its senior years?That’s the perfect time to take a