Kristine Lofgren

Camellias are one of those fantastic plants that look beautiful whether they’re in bloom or not. The glossy, deep green, leathery leaves are as pretty as any ornamental grown for its foliage.As beautiful as we find them, there are lots of insects out

“Jurassic Park” comes to mind for many of us when we think of ferns – abundant, spiky greenery thrashing about as huge dinosaurs crash through the forest in pursuit of human intruders.At 300,000 million years old, they were, i

That intoxicating scent – jasmine is unlike anything else, and it’s no wonder you can find it in so many gardens.While it’s not a particularly delicate pla

With its honey-sweet fragrance, colorful blossoms, and graceful vining growth habit, it’s easy to fall in love with honeysuckle.So many people have a cherished memory of sipping the sweet ne

Nothing says summer like a large harvest of homegrown zucchini.And as much as you enjoy the freshly-plucked f

Do you love the fresh fruits of summer, but lack the garden space to grow your own? It’s time you considered growing zucchini in a container.These delicious, nutritious hall

I have a radish problem. No, it’s not a disease issue, nor am I battling with pests. I have an addiction.I can’t resist the lure of a big, bright bun

Thank heavens for self-seeding perennials!I’m going to be honest: I’m all for

My partner will devour beets any old way, whether that’s in a bitter pickled version or a creamy cold soup.Me? I adore these root veggies, b

If you’re growing apple trees, I’m sorry to say you’re almost certainly going to become acquainted with one (or more) of the pests on this list at some point.I’m not saying that in the case of an infesta

A lot of people plant marigolds because they’re so easy to grow. They reseed themselves without becoming invasive, tolerate drought, and hardly seem bothered by pests or diseases.But no plant is impervious to problems.

Fuchsia is one of those plants that has little value when it’s not in bloom. Sorry, little plants! But you just aren’t that pretty when you aren’t flowering.We link to vendors to help you find relev

It goes without saying that you want the biggest, boldest blooms, and the most flowers possible on your roses, right? Water is a key part of that. No moisture, no flowers.We link to vendors to hel

I don’t know where the rumor started that dahlias don’t do well in containers.Sure, some of them are big, so you need

Dahlias aren’t for the shrinking violets of the world. They’re brash, bold, and loud.And of the many dahlia types, dinnerplates are p

I love the early summer because the weather is lovely, the whole season stretches out before you, and most importantly… it’s the beginning of gooseberry season!In my area, the end of June means

Milkweeds (Asclepias spp.) are fascinating plants.To our eyes, they produce masses of pretty flowers

References to “new” or “old” wood are common when it comes to pruning.And understanding which is which is key, because pruning t

Cast-iron plant might sound like a strange name for a tropical evergreen, but once you realize how exceptionally tough this plant is, you’ll understand the label.Aspidistra elatior is incredibly tolerant of neglect. Dro

If you want to make me cry, just tell me you spotted bindweed in my garden.My grandma paid me by the hour when I was

If you’ve ever plucked a juicy, ripe gooseberry from the plant and taken a bite, only to be horrified to discover a tiny white maggot has taken up residence in the middle of the fruit, it’s an experience you won’t soon forget.Gooseberry or currant maggots are tiny pests that burrow into currants and gooseberries, an

Zucchini are nothing if not prolific, and while you’re more likely to see a vine take over half your garden than you are to see one struggle and die, they still have their share of potential problems.There are several pests and diseases that are particularly common

For reliable, long-lasting color, you can’t go wrong with petunias.And for bold red hues that last and last

Petunias are everywhere. They tumble out of hanging baskets, flank doorways in pots, and fill flower beds across the world.They bloom all summer long, come

I find peppers to be polarizing. Some people love them (me) and others (my mom) don’t even want to have them in their house.I wish pests felt the same way that my mom does,

In the spring, many of us buy those tried-and-true annuals that provide floral interest all summer long.Think geraniums, violets, marigolds, and of

If you’ve ever waffled between selecting spearmint or peppermint gum at the store, then you know that there are lots of mint flavors out there.While they all contain menthol, which gives

I have a confession to make: I adore roses, but I rarely give them exactly what they need to look their best.One of my most common offenses? P

Step outside your door and look around at your lawn and garden. You probably see a few common weeds. Now look again. You might also be looking at dinner or the ingredients for a poultice to ease that rash that’s been nagging you.It’s easy to disregard weeds as a troublesome nuis

There’s one thing that I constantly run into when talking to gardeners who are interested in growing roses:A sense of being overwhelmed. There seems

If only plants could talk, they could tell us that they aren’t feeling well.Your grapevines could warn you that

No offense to roses, but let’s be honest: A rose bush isn’t exactly stunning when it isn’t in bloom.Sure, it can be a lovely additi

We dutifully prune our fruit trees and our rose bushes, but not all of us are taking the same care with our tomatoes.We link to vendors to help you find re

I distinctly remember my first close encounter with a hawthorn.I was looking for the perfect pair of trees to hang

It’s finally happening! After a boring, bland winter, your fuchsia plants are starting to bud out. But then the unthinkable takes place – the buds start to sprinkle down like raindrops.What’s happening?!Bud drop can occur at th

If you look up during the winter, when all the deciduous trees have dropped their leaves, you might spot something still growing up there, tucked in the bare branches.It might be mistletoe, that beautiful parasite that we smooc