Garden Designer Jay Sifford Is At Peace Among The Plants

For Lee Hemmings Carlton, it was love at first sight with dahlias. Although the flower farmer had studied horticulture in college, it wasn’t until she moved to the mountains of North Carolina in 2008 that she discovered country dahlias. “I saw them in a vase and thought, ‘What are those?’” she recalls. “I was hooked.” 

Growing a vegetable garden doesn’t mean it has to be boring, dull, and less interesting. On the contrary, it can be very enjoyable and attractive. If you want to know how? Just follow the tips below!

Working in sustainable garden design, I see misconceptions surrounding sustainable gardens and gardening on a regular basis. So, let's see if we can put some erroneous ideas to rest and help you avoid some common mistakes.

Today we’re visiting with Lisa Chapman.

I've had no end of people asking me if I’ve seen the natural pool episode of Grand Designs — where a couple in Chichester build a daring new house with a kitchen that sits overlooking a beautiful big swimming pond. The lucky owners can walk straight off their decking into clean, chemical-free water and swim completely immersed in nature. It seems it’s really caught people’s imaginations.

A good courtyard garden design can turn a drab and uninviting space into a magical one that is both beautiful and productive. An enclosed garden might be created from scratch, or driven by necessity when this is the only outside space available. Either way, courtyard gardens can be wonderful when thought and care are put into their design.

In permaculture garden design, we often talk about the importance of taking a holistic approach. But if you are unfamiliar with this phrase, then you may question what exactly it means. 

It’s hardly a meal in the South without green beans on the table! Fortunately, the common garden bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) is one of the easiest vegetables to grow, even if it’s your first garden. Sometimes called snap beans, garden beans are inexpensive seeds and fast growers, with some types ready in as little as 50 days. They’ll produce bumper crops so you’ll have plenty of green beans to cook fresh, freeze or pickle. With top picks fromAll-American Selections (AAS), which trials seed performance for home gardeners,  Johnny’s Selected Seeds, extension services at Clemson University, North Carolina State University, Louisiana State University, University of Georgia, and University of Kentucky, here are the best types of beans to grow in the South:

There’s absolutely nothing as amazing as a fresh-picked tomato still warm from the sun. In fact,tomatoes are one of the most popular plants in home gardens, alongsidebeans, summer squash, andherbs such as basil. But with hundreds and hundreds of tomato cultivars, or cultivated varieties, it’s tough to choose which ones you should plant to stand up to the heat and humidity of the South. Whether you’re a traditionalist and plant only heirloom types your Granddaddy grew or you’re all about experimenting with new types bred for improved disease resistance, you’ll get the highest yield when you grow a few different types. Just make sure to set plants out after all danger of frost has passed in your area, and give them at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight per day. Tomatoes do not do well in shade.

It’s nice to be aware of the many changes and trends taking place in the world of gardening.

Embarking on the journey of creating and caring for a garden can be both exciting and daunting

Serene, peaceful, balanced, simple words that describe the Zen garden, the traditional Japanese language expressed through mineral means, through rocks and sand sculpting equilibrium, deaf, peaceful art around one`s home.