Kristine Lofgren

There are a few plants out there that rescue me from the end-of-summer blues.You know, that feeling that comes around when you know the g

Raise your hand if you’ve neglected to prune your plants before.My hand’s raised, in case you

Winter and early spring can be terrible for the gardener. Everything is dormant in many regions, and while the quiet, cold months can be beautiful in their own way, thank goodness for the winter bloomers like camellias.They bring some much-needed color to a d

Hellebores have become extremely popular in recent years, and I totally get it.They’re tough, require little maintenance, and provide s

Chervil, Anthriscus cerefolium, is a tasty annual herb that thrives in those cool, shady areas where other plants fail to thrive.It has a unique, peppery, sweet flavor

Every time you walk down the sidewalk, that formerly petite rose you planted seems to reach out and grab you. Pruning can only go so far: It’s officially time to move that overgrown plant.Or maybe your rose used to

Despite the fact that they come from subtropical regions that rarely, if ever, have to face the threat of frost, fuchsias have found their way into gardens across the globe.These versatile flowers can lend color to a

Surprise, spring has come early!Okay, I wish. But we can make it seem like spring is a

Bay laurel, Laurus nobilis, is one of those garden marvels that serves more than one purpose.Beyond adding evergreen ornamenta

I can’t resist cheese. It’s the reason I stopped eating a vegan diet.There isn’t a single kind I don’t

Have you ever looked at the earth underneath a huge oak tree and thought to yourself, “it’s too bad I can’t plant a crop there”?Okay, maybe not everyone sees their proper

Summer veggies receive all the attention. Tomatoes, squash, eggplants, beans, and melons overflow the baskets at farmers markets and neighbors share their bounties with each other in August.But there’s something extra special about early spring a

There’s a reason why rhododendrons are so popular. The riot of color that a well-placed plant can produce is replicated by few other shrubs out there. But beyond that, they come in a massive range of sizes, leaf shapes, and growth habits as well.There are rhododendrons for shade and some for full s

There are few veggies that stand out in the garden quite like Swiss chard can. Those neon stems are so striking that it’s merely a bonus that they also happen to be fabulously tasty as well.When disease strikes, not only can it depr

Planting perennials like roses in the fall is my secret weapon.Okay, so it’s not exactly a secr

Quick, when you hear the word “hosta,” what do you think of? I bet it’s not the blossoms, right?These foliage plants are known for their lovely

When the Persephone Period approaches, most of us are tucking our gardens to sleep and hunkering down for the long winter.Unless we have a cold frame, that is. Th

You spend time searching for the perfect Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) and you shell out your hard-earned money to buy the biggest one you can afford – and that’s only the beginning.Then you need to dig that giant hole and plant the da

Impatiens are famous for their ability to liven up a shady corner of the yard.Even deep shade doesn’t phase them much. And we aren

I know, I know. The song says that “every rose has its thorn.” But does it really?Breeders have been working for a long time t

Eliot Coleman, a pioneer of four-season gardening, wrote that “gardeners should dedicate a monument to the cold frame.” I agree.If you can’t wait to start gro

If you’re on the hunt for a fuss-free, simple to care for but oh-so-pretty houseplant, you might like to try peperomias.These little tropical beauties are semi-succulent

Red is classic and yellow is like a ray of sunshine, but a perfectly pink rose is unforgettable. It’s not just about having a quiet, sweet moment. Pink hues can be bold, celebratory, or striking.I’ve been guilty of buying a rose purel

If you’ve ever shopped for a Japanese maple, you have no doubt noticed that they come in an astounding array of leaf colors and shapes, and a range of growth habits and sizes.While that’s wonderful in terms of options, it can b

Peperomias are marvelously diverse, ranging from petite bright green plants that trail out of hanging baskets to two-foot-tall upright specimens with striking wrinkled foliage and purple stems.Some look like succulents, while others are bushy and lush.

Roses are one of the most varied flowering plants out there. There are over a hundred species, and thousands of hybrids and cultivars.They come in an endless range of colors, s

African violets are a treat when they’re happily in bloom. But when they’re unhappy, they can be downright strange looking.They can grow long stems and long petioles that make the

If you have a pothos plant, then you know already that they are pretty darn prolific. Maybe even too prolific.You turn your back and suddenly, ther

Not all abundant growth on your apple tree is a good thing. You might look out one day and see lots of new growth and think something positive is happening.It’s easy to mistake the bunches of

Bay trees are so beautiful that I sometimes forget the leaves are also an essential culinary herb. And every time I do pluck a leaf from m

By the simple virtue of being here for such a short time before they’re gone, ephemeral flowers are special.But trilliums are special not just because they grac

Munching on a ripe blackberry is a sensory experience that is hard to replicate: the snap between your teeth then the rush of juice, and the crack of the tiny seeds.Blackberry bushes are pretty reliabl

One of the most fabulous things about coneflowers is that they’re rarely troubled by pests or diseases. That goes double for any of the uncultivated species.Now, this shouldn’t imply that there are zero issues that

Juniper berries – which are actually cones, not berries at all – are incredibly versatile. They can be used to flavor drinks, savory dishes, and desserts.They can also be used medicinally, or

If you want to stretch your food budget, but you still crave organic, hyper-local produce – even during a global pandemic that’s keeping you at home – it’s time to gain some familiarity with growing lettuce from scraps.Okay, you’re not going to yield a huge

Broccoli is a satisfying plant to grow.While zucchini is prolific and leafy greens