PINK Ideas, Tips & Guides

Most flowering plants bloom once a year or less. Some even take decades to produce a single flower that lasts for a day before withering away. But with our selection of perennials that bloom multiple times a year, your garden will never lose its floral charm.

Please be assured that the title is not intended to reflect how I feel about the vase, but more of an acknowledgment that a pink and white combination always makes me think of ‘coconut ice’, and I am very partial to coconut in cakes and confectionery although not in things like coconut water or any other drink, alcoholic or otherwise. Coconut ice, if you haven’t heard of it, is an old-fashioned confection made from coconut, sugar and milk, one half coloured pink, the other remaining white, and no doubt far too sweet for my taste these days.

Don’t put away your gardening tools just yet! Once the weather moderates, there’s still plenty of time to plant. In fact, fall actually is an ideal time for adding new perennials and shrubs to your garden to add beauty, privacy, andpollinator-friendly plants.

Most of these plants grow in the wild, and some have ornamental value due to their aesthetics. To make your garden a hub of beneficial insects and pollinators butterflies, grow some of these weeds that attract the most pollinators but with care so they won’t invade other plants.

Long flowering plants mean that you can extend your summer colour right through to autumn. And even to the first frosts of winter.

Before this gorgeous celebratory staple crowds supermarkets and nurseries in anticipation of the holidays, let’s give you a low-down on all that’s special about the Christmas cactus and uncover the secrets that give it so much character!

Welcome to an exploration of flowers that start with the letter “C”. This list covers a fabulous range of blooms, from the classic Carnation to the striking Calla Lily.

Do you have childhood memories of catching lizards in the backyard? Maybe you or your kids kept a few as temporary pets.

There's a long to-do list that begins forming when you're preparing to sell your house, and one aesthetic element that always appears is repainting.

The garden is definitely on the turn, but there are still treasures to be found. Helichrysum ‘Bright Rose’, for example, has flowered prolifically this year but, with all the other material, I had not cut it very often and the plants were covered in blooms that were not quite buds but didn’t look like spent flowers**. With little rain in August, it wasn’t as if they had ‘balled’ either but, whatever their status, I took advantage of their numbers and used them as a starting point for today’s Vase on Monday.

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Even if you aren't fortunate enough to live next to a meadow of wildflowers, you can still capture their untamed beauty in a container or garden this summer by planting cosmos. Cosmos come in various colors, from burgundy to pink to white. Mix them up for a more natural look, like a wildflower meadow. Bonus: this colorful flower, native to tropical America, attracts birds and butterflies with its cheery blooms. Because of their wildflower characteristics, cosmo flowers are considered invasive in some environments. Cosmos are prime not only for containers but for creating a mass of color in borders or backgrounds or as a filler among shrubs.

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!

There are plenty of traditional bathroom colors to choose from. You can opt for neutrals, for example, to create a beige bathroom, a classic bathroom shade. Eggshell bathrooms are also another go-to favorite that create a soothing atmosphere in the bathroom.

Everybody knows that Crotons are woody, broadleaf shrubs that make perfect indoor plants. However, they can also be grown outdoors, especially in frost-free Southern climates. Even though you live in a colder region, you can keep them outside in warmer months.

Happy Friday GPODers!

Aldi

Left: Marat Musabirov / Getty Images; Right: dianazh / Getty Images | Design: Better Homes & Gardens

Add more color to your shade garden and containers with the wishbone flower (Torenia). The unique flowers resemble a single snapdragon bloom and have stamens that meet in the center, resembling a wishbone, giving the plant its common name. There are two types of wishbone flowers: one that trails and one that is upright and compact.

Rarely seen, the mole (Talpa europaea)  has the most gorgeous crushed-velvet fur, huge shovel-like paws, a bright pink snout, and tiny eyes. It lives underground, using its paws to dig tunnels and hunt for earthworms and other soil invertebrates, such as carrot fly larvae. You’re most likely to see molehills than the moles themselves. These are heaps of soil which moles push to the surface from shallow tunnels. However, most mole tunnels are deeper underground. They vary in depth, with the deepest tunnels used in times of drought. Each tunnel system has at least one nest chamber, used for sleeping and breeding.

The physical structure of these flowers closely resembles an artistic representation of a heart and, hence, will be a unique addition to your plant collection. The best part is that along with their peculiar beauty, they are also easy to grow! So let these flowers be the “heart” of your garden!

Scent is powerful, triggering memories from long ago and transporting us to faraway places. In the garden, fragrant perennials often connect us to childhood walks through our grandparents’ gardens or summer days spent gathering bouquets. Aromatic flowers and foliage also play upon our emotions. Some scents are soothing and can be used to enhance outdoor seating areas to help us unwind after a long day. When planted near the front door, fragrant perennials make an alluring first impression. Fragrant blooms also attract a diversity of pollinators to the garden.

We like it when anything and everything around us reminds us to rush to the garden and love up the flora in our space—even letters of the alphabet! Today, we’re focusing on trees that start with the letter R.

Tips for Growing Pink Lady Apples M. x domestica ‘Cripps Pink’

Just like how a little cortisol keeps us on our toes, a little stress can bring out the best hues in your succulents! We share varieties that respond to changes in their habitat by changing colors. If you want rainbow foliage in your home with the least effort, these are perfect!

Michaels | Design: Better Homes & Gardens

While most plants struggle to survive when it’s time for frost, these ones thrive! So, as you layer up in wool and fur and ready your fireplace, these plants shed their shyness and burst into the prettiest blooms in fall; some of these even continue their show in winter! We present to you the best cool-season flowers that love chilly weather. Dig in!

It’s August already, and the holiday season is just around the corner! If you want your Christmas cactus to bloom extra pretty during the festive season, now’s the time to act. As summer peaks, this is the prime time to coax your cactus into producing more flowers. Here’s what you do!

Blaine Moats

 With over 30,000 species under their belt, it’s no surprise that these special plants emit a range of scents, from spicy to fruity, citrusy to floral, or even nutty and creamy. And some imitate the scents of other blooms like roses and hyacinths! So, we compiled a selection of the best and most fragrant orchids for your home.

A couple of the Sunset editors were talking about the Barbie Dreamhouse the other day. And we had a hot take: Although it’s an iconic home (with a slide, pool, and a color palette that childhood dreams were made of), it’s not the most attractive-looking space from an interior design or architecture standpoint. Sure, it has some touches of mid-century modern style and an extremely cohesive color palette, but we think not very many people would want to live there IRL. On top of that, it doesn’t really look homey or comfy. And all of that’s okay, because the house is for a doll and make-believe moments. What’s a human who wants to live out their Barbie fantasies to do?

Coneflowers or Echinacea are classic daisy-like perennials that lure in the prettiest butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds to their honey-scented, nectar-filled blooms! Perfect for landscaping, coneflowers practically grow themselves and appear in stunning hues!

Did you know some house plants have foliage that morphs hues, while others have flowers that change color? Let’s explore these plants so you may select your favorite picks to liven up your home!

When it comes to landscaping, hydrangeas and hostas are extraordinary partners! Both promise year-round beauty, and their shade-loving nature uses up every inch of the garden. So, are you ready to turn your dim spaces into an explosion of colors? Read on!

These assassins of the plant kingdom are so toxic that a nibble can be the last thing you taste! This article will help you identify and steer clear of fatal flowers that can even kill a human.