Mary Ellen Ellis

The wide world of plants is fascinating and diverse. One interesting thing that some plants do is mimic the shape, color, and general appearance of something else. Plants that look like other things are sometimes random and coincidental, but others have resulted from evolution to get an advantage. Regardless of the cause or reason, these whimsical plants are fun to grow indoors as houseplants or in the garden.

Cultivating Verbena bonariensis gives you a chance to add a top-flight ornamental beauty to your garden. If you crave striking vertical flowers that can hold their own in borders or prairie-style displays, growing these verbena plants guarantees height, structure and drama. They also attract butterflies.

Some houseplants are easy to grow and tolerate neglect, while others are pickier. It can be frustrating to try to grow plants indoors only to find they wilt, yellow or even die. While several factors go into growing a healthy plant, watering properly is often the most critical. We all know it is possible to kill with kindness where our watering cans are concerned. Knowing how often to water indoor plants and how much, is essential for success. 

Fritillaria persica, Persian lily or Persian fritillary, is a member of the lily family and is native to Western Asia. It is a striking addition to sunny borders and naturalized areas of gardens. The racemes of bell-shaped purple-brown Persian lily flowers cluster on spikes up to three feet (0.9 m) tall.

Vehicles are going autonomous, so why not weeding machines? Weeding robots are real, and some farms have already put them to use. These autonomous weed killers should reduce labor costs for farms, many of which are experiencing labor shortages. Robots could also be important in reducing the use of harmful chemicals in agriculture.

Papaya is a tasty tropical fruit that can become a fairly large tree in gardens in warm climates. If you don’t have a warm climate, growing papayas in pots indoors is an option. It requires some special care and adequate space, but is doable.

Intergenerational gardening lets older people and children come together for their mutual benefit. Intergenerational gardening is a great way for children to learn, and offers older adults an important role in mentoring and teaching them, as well as some fun and pleasant company.

Maximalism is experiencing a big comeback in interior design. Once thought to be old fashioned or cluttered, younger generations are embracing the look and making it shine. If the trend appeals to you, consider designing a maximalist garden to show off all your favorite plants, garden art, patio furniture, and more.

Fall is a great time for garden chores. This is the time to clean up before winter, protect vulnerable plants, and wind down the growing season. This isn’t the right time for all tasks, though. Know what to do with your garden in the fall and what not to do — for instance, what plants should not be cut back in the fall — to best prepare it for next year.

You might not be able to live in the tropics, but you can enjoy the atmosphere with the right plants. Knowing how to keep tropical plants alive in winter ensures you get to enjoy them year-round. If you understand your particular plants’ needs, it’s easy to keep them going.

Is watering your garden one of your most time consuming chores? Do you wish you had a more efficient watering strategy that would save time? Ditch your old strategy and consider how to create hydrozones for smarter, more efficient irrigation.

The idea of keeping at least some of a garden natural and relatively uncultivated is growing in popularity. Even in traditionally well-manicured suburban enclaves, the concept is taking root.

Landscape plants in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Michigan are plentiful. Choosing the best shrubs, trees, and perennials can be overwhelming. Here are some of the best options for upper Midwest gardens based on attractiveness, ease of maintenance and appropriateness for the climate.

You may not always think of your yard or garden as an ecosystem, but it is. As the gardener, you are part of the ecosystem too. How you garden impacts the ecosystem and the surrounding environment. It’s important to understand what this means, so you can make the right choices to maintain a healthy garden ecosystem.

One of the most important things to know about making your own compost is what you can and cannot put in it. For example, meat and dairy shouldn’t go in because they get very stinky and attract pests. What about eggshells, though? When composting eggshells, salmonella might concern a conscientious gardener, but it’s really nothing to worry about.

The black swallow wort plant is a vine native to Europe that has become invasive in parts of the U.S. It was intentionally brought here as an ornamental vine but now wreaks havoc in many ecosystems. Learn how to identify this problematic vine and control methods to help eradicate it from your area.

The benefits of community gardens are hard to overstate. These green spaces, often in the midst of an urban landscape, are a boon to individuals and the community as a whole. One of the most surprising benefits is a significant and measurable reduction in crime.

The term pollinizer is easy to confuse with pollinator, and many people misuse the terms. A pollinizer is a plant, while a pollinator is an animal, usually an insect. Both are important in producing fruit on trees, vegetable plants, and more.

When something is whimsical, it is playful, fun, fanciful, and not too serious. Your style or your home décor can be whimsical, but what about your garden? If you enjoy the world of whimsy, take it to the outdoors and design a quirky and imaginative space.

Crotons are popular tropical houseplants that are most noted for their striking, colorful foliage. They can also be grown outdoors in subtropical and tropical climates. Because they’re so beautiful, you might want more. Propagating croton plants is easy. There are two options: cuttings and air layering.

Eastern redbud is a popular landscaping tree for many reasons. It grows in a variety of conditions. It doesn’t grow too large. It’s a native species in many states. But, most importantly for many homeowners, redbuds produce a stunning display of early spring flowers. The popularity of the tree has led to the development of many eastern redbud cultivars with varied colors and forms.

Mulch doesn’t last forever unless you use an inorganic, durable mulch, like stones or rubber. Natural mulches break down. They blow away in the wind and disperse in other ways. Deciding what to do with old mulch in spring means evaluating its current state and assessing the needs of your beds.

Gardening is a healthy, rewarding hobby. It can also be practical for growing your own food. On the other hand, it’s not always cheap. Gardening costs money, but doing it on a budget is possible. If money is tight for your family, consider these small garden ideas on a budget to grow in less space and at a lower cost.

Bloomcore, also known as flowercore, is an aesthetic trend that is just right for gardeners. It embraces the natural world, and most importantly, flowers. Putting nature first, it creates a pretty, flowery look both indoors and outside in the garden.

The solitary mason bee is a North American native pollinator that deserves more attention and respect. Honeybees do a lot of pollinating, but they are not native, their populations are in decline, and they are not as efficient at pollinating as some other species, including mason bees. Learn more about this humble bee and how to support it in your garden.