Nan Schiller

Broccoli is a nutritious vegetable that tastes delicious fresh from the garden. However, it can be challenging to grow, and sometimes all you get is a yard full of beautiful – and edible – leafy greens, but no heads.We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of ou

Ground cover plants are extremely useful in landscaping.They’re low-maintenance landscaping solutions to c

Lily of the valley, Convallaria majalis, is an herbaceous flowering perennial in the asparagus family.It grows from a rhizome and thrives in

Roses, Rosaspp., are perennial flowering plants suited to cultivation in USDA Hardiness Zones 3 to 11. They thrive in organically-rich loam with a slightly acidic pH of 6.0 to 6.5 in a full sun to part shade location.If you’re standing, shear

Okra, Abelmoschus esculentus, is a flowering annual that bears edible pods and grows in all USDA Hardiness Zones.We link to vendors to help you find relevant product

We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission.Whether you are an avid birdwatcher or aspire to be one, it’s

Alstroemeria, also known as Peruvian, parrot, or princess lily, as well as lily of the Incas, is an exceptional cutting garden flower in the Alstroemeriaceae family.There are about 80 species native to South America,

Okra, referred to by the botanical name Abelmoschus esculentus or sometimes Hibiscus esculentus, is a member of the Malvaceae, or mallow family, that includes cotton, hibiscus, and hollyhocks.It is thought to have origins in ancient Egypt an

In this modern day of decks and patios, many of us have gotten away from sitting in, or even near, our gardens, close to the flowers and the birds and butterflies that make their homes here.We link to vendors to help you find

Kale, Brassica oleracea var. acephala, is a cool weather crop that can be planted early in the spring and late in the summer.In our guide to growing kale,

Smut fungi, or Ustilaginomycetes, are parasites that infect plants with teliospores that enter plant tissue, and have the ability to overwinter and return from year to year. They are known as “true” smuts.There are approximately 1,400 species that blight mainly ce

Hellebores, Helleborus, are hardy perennials that bloom from late winter into early spring.Most varieties available

The most inviting gardens teem with life, and a great way to liven things up is to add bird feeders to your outdoor landscape.One of my favorites is a tubular unit that I fill with thist

Forsythia is a deciduous woody shrub that thrives in full sun and average, well-draining soil. It’s an iconic harbinger of spring in USDA Hardin

Yarrow, Achillea spp., is a semi-evergreen flowering perennial in the aster, or Asteraceae family.Suitable for growers in USDA Hardi

If you have a garden (especially a cut flower garden), you have the makings of beautiful foliage arrangements at your fingertips. When you combine the seasonal leaves, flowers, and branches available to you, the creative possibilities are awesome!With a few tips, you’ll be on your way to crafting centerpieces fo

Even if you don’t have room for a regular garden, you can still enjoy growing and harvesting fresh vegetables all summer long by cultivating your crops in containers.If the sun shines for a good part

Are you shopping for backyard playground equipment and feeling overwhelmed by your options?From safe clearances to customization, you’ll find everything yo

Forsythia is an iconic shrub in USDA Hardiness Zones 5-8, where its late winter to early spring blooms shatter winter’s icy grip with their bold yellow blossoms.In our guide to growing fors

Seeing a crop through to harvest can pose a challenge when frost is in the forecast.We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy

Sweetly fragrant Virginia stock, Malcolmia maritima, is a member of the Brassicaceae, or mustard family of plants that includes broccoli, cabbages, and cauliflower.Its Latin name reveals nautical origins, and in fact, it was origina

If you live in the Northeast, like me, or anywhere in USDA Hardiness Zones 5 to 8, it’s likely that you are well acquainted with Forsythia spp., a deciduous woody shrub best known for its bright yellow spring blossoms.In our forsythia growing guide, we d

Christmas cactus, Schlumbergera spp., is one of the easiest houseplants to grow.Not a desert cactus, but an epip

Christmas cactus, Schlumbergera spp., is a Brazilian rainforest plant that grows in the dappled sunlight that penetrates the tree canopy.It is an epiphyte that n

The aphid is a tiny, soft-bodied insect that spells trouble in the garden. Its salivary secretions are phytotoxic, causing galls to form; disfiguring buds, flowers, fruit, and leaves; hollowing stems; spreading viruses; stunting growth, and literally sucking the life out of plants.We link to vendors to help you fi

Viburnum species are woody shrubs with clusters of blossoms in shades of cream, white, or pink. They flower from late winter into spring, or spring into summer.We link to vendors to help you

The jade plant, Crassula ovata, is a succulent species in the sizable Crassulaceae family of plants.Native to South Africa, it is suited to outdoor cul

We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission.Rodale’s Ultimate Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening: The In

If you’ve ever feasted on Indian food, you’ve undoubtedly enjoyed the pungent flavor and golden color of turmeric, Curcuma longa, aka Indian saffron, an herbaceous perennial in the Zingiberaceae family of plants that is related to ginger and cardamom.A chemical compound called curcumin found in the fleshy rhizomes of this plant

If you’re tired of looking out the window at a dormant winter landscape, have I got a plant for you! It’s Helleborus orientalis, aka Lenten rose, or simply, hellebore.Helleborus is a genus in the Ranunculaceae, or buttercup family that incl

We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission.If you’d like to turn your back on chemic

Flowering kale, Brassica oleracea var. acephala, is a cool-weather biennial in the Brassicaceae family that includes broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, and kohlrabi. It is usually grown as an annual in the cool gardens of fall, and winter.Bred to look attractive, it is edible

Are you looking for a decorative addition to your property? A birdbath is a great choice that’s pretty, functional, and fun.When spring arrives in my corner of Pennsylvania, I’m surrounded by woodpeckers

We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission.If you’ve ever wanted to devote all or part of your garden to growing flowers and folia

Caladiums are colorful, tropical foliage plants that grow as perennials in USDA Hardiness Zones 9 to 11.In colder areas, where the ground free

Anise hyssop, Agastache foeniculum, is a short-lived, edible herbaceous perennial in the Lamiaceae, or mint family.It’s a native plant suited to gardens in USDA Hardiness