Floral Sunshine From Barb

Sadly, there were neither blue skies nor sunshine yesterday, when I created this vase, and if I had checked the forecast when I first got up I would have searched for and picked blooms, popped them in a vase and photographed them first thing, when it was at least dry. As it was, however, with other commitments later, I found myself dashing out in the rainy late afternoon to find something I could quickly cut and display and photograph.

The rainbow nation has many colorful specimens that carry a delightful scent. Out of those, here are the most Fragrant Flowers From South Africa that you must consider growing!

For gardeners who love to raise their plants from seed, the beginning of March is not unlike the build-up to Christmas. There’s lots of hustle and bustle, with flurries of intriguing parcels from favourite suppliers arriving in the post, accompanied by the making of wish lists and enthusiastic sorting of essential tools and equipment.

Zinnia flowers are some of the most beautiful, vibrant, and captivating blooms around. They’re bold. They’re cheerful. They’re resilient. They add bursts of color to any garden or landscape and come in various shapes, sizes, and colors from reds, oranges, and pinks to yellows and whites—and their double-layered petals are exceptional. Plus, they attract important pollinators like butterflies and bees.

Gustavo Caballero / Getty Images

Coneflowers (Echinacea species) are a favorite perennial of millions of gardeners, and growing Echinacea from seed is fun and easy, if you follow the strategies I’m about to share. In this article I’ll introduce 3 methods of planting Echinacea seeds and the correct timing for each technique. With a little patience and forethought, you can grow hundreds of coneflower plants for the price of a single packet of seeds.

How to Start Broccoli from Seed

Header image: Details of a silicified fern fossil. Geoff Thompson/Queensland Museum

How to Grow Amaryllis (Hippeastrum) from Seed

How to Grow Parsley from Seed

Can You Regrow Parsnips from Kitchen Scraps?

Knowing when to plant collard greens is key to their success. They can be grown directly from seeds or the seedlings transplanted into garden beds or containers to get a head start on the harvest. When deciding how and when to plant collard greens, your local climate and the length of your growing season are some of the most important factors to consider. In this article you’ll learn about the importance of timing, when to start collard green seeds indoors, when to direct sow outdoors, when to transplant seedlings, and get tips for growing healthy plants.