A Lazy Gardener Introduces New Garden Friends

Generally poisonous plants cause harm either by ingestion or touch. Both the phenomena are dangerous especially for people with certain allergy and sensitivity: dermatitis, nausea, vomiting, itchiness are usual symptoms. They can be harmful for pets too, that is why the best option is to remove them securely as soon as you find them in your garden.

The alpine aster, Aster alpinus, is a short-lived cold weather perennial in the very large Asteraceae family that includes daisies, dahlias, and sunflowers.This herbaceous ornamental species is unique for having an earl

And their horticultural experiments seem to prove that’s true.Its director, Ethan Kauffman, and I spoke about how he and his team are reinterpreting the grand old landscape with a natives-only ethos that was handed down to them by the nonprofit called Natural Lands that conserved the p

USDA Plant Hardiness Zones are based on the temperature conditions of the place. They range from zones 1a to 13b. Most of the United States comprises zone 3a, which has a low temperature of around -40 and -35 degrees (F), and zone 8a, with 10 to 15 degrees. Outdoor gardening is on hold as by December, most annual plants have finished their cycles and been taken up, and many perennials are dormant.

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Hens and chicks plants make great low-maintenance options for dry, sunny gardens. And there are so many interesting cultivars available in a range of hues, from chocolate brown to green to bright orange and yellow. The common name may be confusing until you grow them yourself and realize it makes sense. One main rosette (mama hen) will eventually produce several offsets or babies (the chicks!). Though I’ve never heard them referred to by houseleeks, their other common name, the Latin name you’ll see on plant tags for these popular succulents is Sempervivum. They are members of the stonecrop family (Crassulaceae).

How can you not immediately fall in love with a plant called “American beautyberry”? It just makes the heart swell. Here, take a Kleenex.The emotive lexicon is well deserved.This large, deciduous shru

There is nothing like a big slab of juicy, tasty, meaty… tomato? That’s right, beefsteak tomato plants grow hefty fruits with pink, red, or orange flesh that taste great fresh, and fit perfectly on burgers or sandwiches.While growing beefsteak tomatoes is si

With its long leaves and striking pattern, rattlesnake plant should be an essential member of your prayer plant collection.What? You don’t have a prayer plant collection? What a feat of restraint!Whi

New home brands seem to debut every year, but it’s not every day that a beloved, legendary retailer launches something completely new. And that’s what Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (whose family of brands include West Elm and Pottery Barn) is doing. Introducing GreenRow, a home brand that is squarely focused on sustainability.

When I think of a plant hunter—as in, someone who goes to places like South Africa, Vietnam, China, and Nepal to find rare species and bring them back to the United States—I imagine a swashbuckling Indiana Jones type running through the mountains complete with hat and whip. And to hear famed plant collector, horticulturist, and botanist Daniel Hinkley tell it, there is a bit of daredevilry to the job. “I’ve had hard treks, bad knees, bee stings, and leeches hanging from my neck,” he says. “But if I am lucky, plant collecting offers me a bit of seed, and the resulting plant possesses all of the memories associated with it.”