Sweet Summer Love

The jewel-like colours of the dahlias were calling me today, but having featured ‘brights’ in recent vases I decided to go for more pastel shades instead. Although I started with cosmos (not as tall as some years, not a bad thing, and certainly bushy and reasonably floriferous, which they weren’t last year), cutting a few stems of each variety, they have largely disappeared amongst the other contents. Having discovered another Double Click variety, I have grown all four this year: DC Cranberries, Snow Puff, Rose Bonbon and Bicolor Rose, the latter being the newest one.

Extreme differences in temperatures like too cold or too hot, along with a lack of water, can make the fruits taste bitter.

If there’s an annual I can’t resist buying each year, it’s zonal geranium (Pelargonium hybrids). The flowers keep coming all season and the colors are fantastic! Of course there’s the classic red bloom but you’ll also find pink, white, lavender, coral, burgundy, orange and salmon in an immense range of shades and patterns. Some are knock-your-socks-off intense — perfect for attracting attention wherever you want. Others are more like Dynamo Salmon above — a peaceful pastel that lends an elegant air wherever it sits. Besides all the flower power, some geraniums have foliage with pretty patterns that look good all season. What’s not to love about this traditional favorite? If geraniums haven’t made it to the top of your must-plant list, keep reading and I’ll show you five reasons

Are you looking for possible ways of adding a dose of vintage style in your garden for the upcoming season? If yes, you are just at the right place. Here I have collected for you some breathtaking designs that will turn your garden into a magical oasis meant to stand out from the rest of the crowd.

Ooh boy, summertime. There’s a lot to love about a summer day spent outside, isn’t there? Let’s set the scene:Pollen wafts on the warm winds while the sun beats d

Dunkin'

When you find a long-blooming annual eager to mound into a big lump of fragrant flowers, you remember it, add it to your garden year after year, and generally find any excuse to use it that you can get away with.Ladies and gentlemen, sweet alyssum is that flower. And if you aren’t f

Tomatoes are a versatile ingredient, and when they’re perfectly ripe, they are exceptionally delicious.If I close my eyes, I can almost taste a sun-ripene

When I first installed raised beds in my garden, I often felt like a dolt and mistakes were thick on the ground. I’d neglect adding compost and then not understand why my raspberries weren’t thriving, for example. Or I’d forget to turn off my timer on a rainy day and kick myself for wasting water. I also assumed certain things that just weren’t true—like I couldn’t plant any summer vegetables after spring.  

Hydrangeas are a great way to add summer interest to the home landscape. Ranging in both size and color, hydrangea species available to flower gardeners are sure to delight. Though most of these plants are considered to be easy to grow, some seasonal care will be needed in order to ensure that each continues to produce an abundance of blooms.

Apples are a beloved fruit that comes in a wide variety of flavors, textures, and sweetness levels. Among them, some apple varieties are particularly renowned for their exceptional sweetness, offering a delightful and satisfying snacking experience. Here are some of the sweetest apple varieties you should try.

There’s more to your spring garden than daffodils, crocuses and tulips. Yet so embedded are these beautiful flowering bulbs in our gardening psyche that it’soften hard to see beyond them – which is a great shame. At this time of year, garden centres and nurseries are groaning with traditional spring flowering bulbs but also some far more exciting and arguably classier late spring and summer bloomers. Let’s take a look around and let’s get planting. Alliums