Kristine Lofgren

Roses are one of the most commonly cultivated and extensively managed plants in the world.There are hundreds of registered hybrids and cultivars alread

There’s a lot to love about the arrival of cool weather. Cozy sweaters and fuzzy slippers come out of storage, warming up next to a real fire in the fireplace becomes an option… and there are brussels sprouts.Sure, you can buy these cruciferous treats year-round

If the very thought of a peppermint patty makes your mouth water (guilty!), or the idea of peppermint tea sends you running to the kettle, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t grow this marvelous herb at home.Mentha x piperita is a hybrid of watermint (M. aquatica)

If I could count the number of times that someone said they hated brussels sprouts as a kid, but love the nutty little nuggets today, I’d be a rich woman.Do you know who else loves brussels sprouts? Bugs.

This little basil beauty is named well: it has a pungent, spicy flavor, it grows in a globe-like shape, and it’s definitely basil.It’s a dwarf strain that fits just about anywhere, including indoors in sma

I have a soft spot in my heart for the underdog, and scented geraniums (also called pelargoniums) are the underdog of the geranium world.For the most part, they aren’t as showy

Do you have a patio garden? Swiss chard is one of those plants that seems positively made for growing in containers in small spaces.It doesn’t mind being a little root

There are certain houseplants out there that shall remain unnamed (including one in particular that rhymes with middleleaf jig…) that have gained massive popularity despite being royal pains in the you-know-what to grow. But the Swiss cheese plant deserves its moment in the spotlight.Those big, holey leaves are show-stopping, without a doubt, but this is also a plant th

Some years, I step outside and notice some sort of problem developing on my roses, and I ask myself why I bother.There are much easier plants to grow, right? Then

I don’t know about you, but I love vining houseplants.Give me a vining philodendron, a

Whether you’re frying it, roasting it, steaming it, or digging into it raw, broccoli is fantastically flavorful, not to mention good for you.Maybe it’s all in my head, but I swear it ta

It’s heartbreaking when your turnip plants look perfectly healthy above ground, but underground, something sinister is happening.You have an image in your mind of

Companion planting is one of those garden practices that many of us engage in despite there being a lack of solid evidence supporting the technique in many cases.That’s not to say there isn’t any benefit to compani

There’s a lot to love about spring, but arguably no other tree marks the coming sunny days of late spring like magnolias.They’re one of the first trees to offer up a

When other types of greens are out of season, delicate Belgian endive is in its prime – and thank goodness for that!This slightly bitter, nutty, and refreshingly crisp veg

I don’t know why parsnips aren’t more popular. Their cousin, the colorful carrot, is a kitchen garden must-have. But when you mention parsnips, it tends to elicit looks of confusion (if not disgust).I don’t get it. It can’t be the taste. They

If you’ve ever wandered around the garden section of your local grocery or home supply store around St. Patrick’s Day, then you’ve probably seen cute little containers filled with shamrocks.They’re a whimsical piece of holiday decor for your ki

Beets often top lists of “perfect plants for beginners” because they aren’t too much of a challenge to grow.So it’s extra devastating when you step into your gard

Broadly speaking, roses aren’t one of those types of plants that you can put in the ground and forget about.On the contrary, us gardeners generally spend a lot of time pr

One of my favorite things about pothos is how ridiculously, absurdly easy they are to grow.More than once, I’ve gone on vacation or gotten super busy and forgot

You gave your brussels sprouts plenty of water and you put them somewhere that they could bask in full sunlight. You kept away those pesky bugs and diseases. You did everything right.So why the heck are your sprout heads loose instead of being ti

One of the things that gardeners love most about philodendrons is that they’re pretty much foolproof.They aren’t one of those species th

There are some plants out there that I just won’t grow from seed. But not parsnips.These exceptional root veggi

Fuchsias are undeniably fabulous, with their prolific and dramatic blossoms that seem to last all growing season long. But you can’t always just pop them in some soil and then sit back and enjoy the show.These plants take a little

Spring is all about planting and summer is when we care for those maturing edible plants.Fall is the time to reap all t

Ornamental blooming drumstick alliums are members of the same genus of plants that edible garlic, onion, shallots, chives, and leeks belong to.When you see these plants growing, you’ll know immediately why they e

I totally get why monsteras are so popular. Who wouldn’t totally fall for a plant that isn’t going to disappoint you, by gradually turning into a limp heap of foliage in a pot?But minimal care requirements alo

Of all the colors that stand out in the garden, I think chartreuse is one of the most noteworthy.Wood sorrel, though often a humble citizen, will re

Don’t have the luxury of a massive garden? Need to get your caraway fix? I feel you. The solution, of course, is to plant your caraway in a container.Some people are surprised to learn t

When most of us picture a tulip plant, we think of a beautiful single blossom coming off an individual, straight stalk out of a mass of leaves that all grow out of one bulb.But many people don’t realize that there

Those flamboyant bearded irises may get most of the attention, but the not-so-humble Douglas iris is ready for more time in the spotlight.A North American native, this spectacular species g

Like many people, my first experience with horehound was crunching down on a hard brown candy that my grandpa bought me from a jar at an old fashioned candy shop. I remember thinking it tasted a bit

Iceberg lettuces have a reputation for being wonderfully crisp but disappointingly bland.They’re the most popular type of lettuce produced and sold commer

Monstera deliciosa is, hands down, my favorite plant to propagate.When someone asks me how I do it, I usually p

Most of us are familiar with the usual garden foes. Aphids are a common sight, and who hasn’t come across a fungal problem now and then?But you don’t hear as much about mosaic

Soil is a vitally important element in gardening, whether you’re growing plants in the ground, in a big container, or constrained in a tiny pot.But it’s particularly essential to get it right when