Flowers Ideas, Tips & Guides

Greater or broadleaf plantain (Plantago major) is a small perennial plant that grows prolifically in gardens, and is often classed as a weed. You’ll find it in borders, paths and lawns, where its leaves form a rosette from which 30cm tall flower spikes emerge in summer.

Some shade is essential in warmer zones, but even in the North, Virginia persicaria (P. virginiana) appreciates afternoon shade and wind protection.

Veronicastrum (Veronicastrum virginicum) is a hardy, herbaceous perennial that has been in garden cultivation for hundreds of years but has only gained popularity in the last couple of decades, thanks to a revival of naturalistic planting styles. Its vertical branching stems are excellent for architectural impact in sunny borders, and its long tapering blooms, made up of many tiny flowers, are a magnet for insects.

Well, obviously, you’re not growing these houseplants because they are toxic! But with this deadly and discomforting quality, why grow them indoors at all? Because you simply can’t resist them! Let’s find out what these plants are and why we can’t stop ourselves from loving them.

Given how pricey they are in the market, growing this fruit may seem challenging! But with attention to a few details, it’s fairly easy and super rewarding! Homegrown fresh blueberries are a delight, especially when you have endless buckets to relish. Follow these tricks to double your blueberry harvest in containers or your garden!

There are few sights more iconic than a garden full of colorful hydrangea blooms. These perennials make their reappearance in late spring and, depending on the variety, they could put on one stunning show or deliver lush flowers all summer long. But making sure you're set up for the most blooms possible means transplanting any new hydrangeas at the right time.

Dead and forgotten? Far from it! These perennials have a life cycle that barely lasts a few years. Most of them bloom in the first few years of planting itself—and then they perish! So, what’s the point in growing such short-lived specimens? Won’t it mean more work? You have the questions, and we have the answers!

Hello GPODers!

When the air gets cooler and you are finding you need an extra sweater more than not, it can be easy to want to prune all of your plants and flowers to get ready for the upcoming season.

A vase full of fresh, bright blooms is all you need to dazzle anyone visiting your home. These can liven up the dullest spaces in a heartbeat but cost a pretty penny at the florist. So it’s natural that you want them to stay glorious and live as long as possible! While you can’t make them last forever, here is how to keep cut flowers fresh longer.

The best part about Hosta is not just its easy-to-maintain and shade-tolerant persona but also the sheer dynamism and versatile varieties it comes in! Regardless of your garden type, there is a hosta waiting for you. We present our selection of the best variegated Hosta varieties out there!

Do African Violets bloom all year round? You can make them! Here are a few tips and tricks to coax your flowers to appear throughout the year, lighting up your home even on the gloomiest days!

Bet you didn’t know you can eat orchids! These stunning blooms are just as lovely in a vase as they are on your taste buds. But not all are edible, and sometimes, not all parts can be eaten. So, let’s explore all there is to know about the most beautiful edible orchids and all their uses!

Why do some potted plants never bloom enough and eventually wither and die? There are many factors involved, which can lead to little or no blossoms in container plants but there is one small miscalculation that you do is the ultimate reason behind their failure.

If you love autumn as much as we do, get excited—it's finally time to bust out the autumn decor!

Potted plants can add greenery and softness to patios, porches, stoops, decks, and fire escapes. Bare or bland outdoor areas are instantly transformed with tall greenery in giant tubs and climbing vines, hanging blooms, and even smaller plants in quirky-cool pots, adding interest and whimsy. The possibilities are endless!

It has been busy in the garden recently, although perhaps it always is, juggling the less exciting seasonal maintenance with more gratifying tweaks and improvements. A number of new plants have been ordered, although where possible I have moved plants from elsewhere or used leftovers from those grown for sale. Meanwhile, the garden ticks over by itself, albeit slowing down but bringing joy with every new bloom, like a fresh flush of roses on ‘Strawberry Hill’ (above), currently awaiting a new structure to support its abundance of blooms during the season, now likely to be a winter project.

The arrival of autumn is the perfect time to get plants in the ground. Early-season rainstorms and cooling temperatures can help plants establish roots, meaning your outdoor fall to-do list isn't limited to just raking leaves.

Have you thought about how your garden micro-climate affects how well your plants grow?

You may include rosemary in your herb garden each year, or tuck it into your containers as an ornamental, but do you know how to harvest rosemary to get the best flavor? The chemical compounds that give the rosemary plant its signature aroma are at peak levels during certain points in the plant’s life cycle. Whether you want just a few fresh rosemary sprigs or you plan to dry and store rosemary for long-term use, learn how to properly harvest this fragrant herb. Why grow rosemary Avid cooks routinely use rosemary to flavor everything from soups and stews to salads and sauces. Since rosemar

“I've always wanted to be outside and I feel happiest when I am in nature," says Alfie Nickerson of Burnt Fen Flowers. «Growing things from seed was always my favourite part, realising what can come from something so small.» It seems he's not alone in this yearning, with a recent study indicating that more than 70 per cent of 18 to 35-year-olds are interested in gardening, and 83% of young people describing gardening as ‘cool.’ Far from the stereotype of being a hobby for the retired generation, millennials and Gen Zs are now heading outdoors come rain or shine, large homestead or urban balcony. With a reputation for being firmly on their phones and indoors, what's caused this sudden shift in a generation?

Interior designer Veere Grenney's garden in Tangier

A Goldfinch perching on teasel

Happy Friday GPODers!

Why’s everyone so obsessed with growing lavender? It’s a super plant—that’s why! It barely needs frequent watering, thrives in all types of soil, is edible, and is full of healing goodness. And it has so many varieties with such distinct scents and blooms that it would be a crime not to grow it. Let’s help you pick the most fragrant lavender varieties for your home!

The time to act is now for the upcoming autumn! The stage is ripe to set your garden up for a colorful, sweet-scented, bloom-filled cold season. We give you a selection of pansy varieties that you should plant in the coming days of fall, as they are champions at handling frost, snow, and many things winter!

Onions are an easy vegetable to grow and usually produce good-sized bulbs that are ready to harvest when the leaves flop over and then turn brown. However, sometimes, onions produce flowers rather than a swollen bulb, or bloom before the bulb has fully swollen. This is known as ‘bolting’ or running to seed and is a fairly common problem with onions, caused by weather or adverse growing conditions. Bolted onions are still edible but they just need eating straight away as they’re not good for storing. What’s more, onion flowers attract pollinators such as bees, and also produce seed which you can collect and use to grow next year’s crop of onions.

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Clueless about what to do with your orchids after they bloom? Don’t let the anticipation of the next set of blooms overwhelm you. Instead, prepare! We share steps to keep your orchids healthy and ripe for recurring blooms in the coming season.

Aldi

Pressed flower art is a craft that utilizes flattened and dried flower blooms to create designs and decorations. It is pretty easy to do and won’t cost much! So why not show off your creativity by making your own pressed flower crafts, which are shared in this article?

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When it comes to perennial vines, it’s hard to top the beauty of blue passion flower (Passiflora caerulea, Zones 7–11). This South American native plant is well-suited for the heat and humidity of the southeastern United States. One of the hardiest passion vines, it will reliably overwinter in Zone 7, or even Zone 6 when provided with extra winter protection. Learn more about choosing the right passion flower vine for your garden here.

How to Grow and Care for Weigela Shrubs Weigela spp.

My original thoughts for a post title ( ‘As Easy As…’) were thwarted when I realised the blue and white alphabet mug I planned to use as a vase was too small; several other similarly coloured vases were rejected for various reasons before I settled on this clear glass jar with its integral ‘cage’. A miniature bird cage, no doubt intended for a doll’s house, now serves as a satisfactory prop – someone must have left the cage open though, as the bird has flown…

Florida’s climate is one of its most important assets. Nicknamed the “Sunshine State,” Florida boasts a humid subtropical climate in the north and central sections along with a tropical climate throughout a majority of the south. The state's native plants are already well suited for its climate and soil conditions, so they can usually thrive without additional irrigation or fertilization.