‘bio-productive gardens,’ with tim johnson of native plant trust

In the rhythmic dance of nature, gardens become living canvases, where flowers and plants weave a tapestry of colors, scents, and textures. There is a verdant realm of unique and captivating ways to adorn outdoor spaces. Let’s start our botanical journey as we explore unconventional methods to embellish gardens, turning them into enchanting sanctuaries that delight the senses like the same-day bouquet delivered to our doorstep.

Today we’re in Phoenix, Maryland, visiting Sally Barker’s beautiful garden:

Picking the right flowers for herb garden can be a vital to use Allelopathy, Pest Management and Polyculture. Let’s have a look at them in detail.

Home is where the heart is—and where all my favorite decor items are, too. Being a design writer means I take creating a comfortable, stylish home seriously. I’m well aware of the transformative power a cozy-as-can-be throw blanket or brilliant organizational item has.  In case you are in the market for decor that balances fun with functionality, I recently took stock of my favorite home items, ones with my forever stamp of approval. Some are investments, some are steals, and all make my house feel a little homier.  Scroll on for 12 of my must-have home products. 

Collaborative post

Plant pots are a staple of the garden and are fantastic for displaying your favourite flowers and plants both indoors and out. They’re great for all types of gardens and allow those without the luxury of green space to display their work on balconies, decked areas, and conservatories.

The winding peaks and troughs of Arizona’s Verde Valley, weaving through jagged ochre mountains, dreamy cactus-clad deserts and deep volcanic canyons, make up some of the most iconic images of the American West. For thousands of years, the valley has been home to both the Verde River, one of Arizona’s only perennial wild rivers, and to Indigenous communities from the ancient Sinagua and Hohokam peoples to present-day tribes including the Yavapai, Hopi, Apache and Zuni. It is also home to 270 species of birds, 94 species of mammals and 76 species of native amphibians and reptiles. All this makes the Verde River key to the history, culture and ecosystem of central Arizona. 

Many children in my programs at the South Carolina Botanical Garden know an enormous amount about non-native honeybees. However, they are astonished to discover the vast diversity of native bees and their immense importance and efficiency as pollinators. In the United States, there are over 4000 native bee species. They range in size from the tiniest fairy bees (Perdita spp.) (found out west) to the giant carpenter bees (Xylocopa spp.). Here are some suggestions to increase children’s (and your) knowledge about our local native bees.

For most of the Southwest, “dry” is a normal state of affairs. We live in a complex mosaic of arid, semi-arid, and seasonally arid zones that make most generalizations impossible. And an especially wet or dry season can throw all calculations off, making our usual watering routines irrelevant. We must be willing to adjust to ensure plant health in our gardens.

Today we’re off to Tennessee to visit Lou Ann’s garden:

We recently visited Carol’s winter garden in Hendersonville, North Carolina (Carol’s Winter Garden) and today we’re headed back to see more of her beauties. Carol’s been gardening here since 2009, and the garden has evolved and matured in beautiful ways in that time.

Feed Pollinators with These Cool-Season Plant Combinations Keep pollinators happy with these spring and fall blooming plant combinations! Grow cool-season plants for pollinators