I've often compared the garden to a party. We are blessed when we're not depending on our landscape to provide all of our winter food, so why not...
Early Blight on Tomatoes
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Is This Poison Ivy
We're all familiar with the saying, "Leaves of three, let it be." But the reality is that there are many plants with sets of three leaves that we...
Watermelon and Smoked Gouda
One of the joys of cooking and having an assortment of fresh ingredient on hand is stumbling on fantastic flavor combinations. I found one this week...
Catching My Eye In Late May
May is a magical month in the garden. If you haven't been a tourist in your own yard recently, go out into the landscape with new eyes. Pretend...
What To Do In The Garden – May
Since every garden is different and what is going on in any given month is completely regional, it's impossible to make a "garden tasks for May"...
Knowing What Plants Do
I got a call yesterday from someone who was puzzled about some shrubs that weren't doing well. She called them "cherry laurels" (Prunus...
Great Packaging – Plants By Mail
I typically order plants from several sources every spring, and they usually come through the shipping process well. Most growers are careful to use...
Bulbs Where You Can See Them
When I moved to this area I was told that on Cape Cod we have January, February, March, March, March, June. I soon discovered that even the...
A Well Mannered Violet
In past posts I've made it clear that I don't want common violets (Viola odorata) on Poison Ivy Acres. I will periodically spot a flowering plant or...
Herbs for the Cocktail Hour Garden
Over the next few weeks I'll be featuring some must-have plants for your cocktail hour garden. Many of these are featured in the newly published The...
Colors For The Evening Garden
Do you have a garden that is hit by the rays of the sun in early morning or at sunset? Do you have (or want) a firepit? If so, pay attention to the...
I Love Tropical Hibiscus
Name: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis aka tropical hibiscus Type of Plant: This is a shrub in warmer climates, but a tropical container plant for those of...
Horticultural Hotline: Money DOES Grow on Trees!
In a news conference today three of the countries largest growers of ornamental plants jointly announced the release of a new species and cultivar...
What To Do With Leftover Spiral Ham
Did you have a spiral ham for Easter? As good as this is, ham is a rich, salty meat and a little goes a long way. Here's a recipe for making ham...
Planting Bare Root Peonies
When I spoke at the Boston Flower Show recently I stopped by the Peony's Envy booth. I'd chatted with Kathleen Gagan on The Garden Lady earlier in...
I Love Lenten Rose Hellebores
Name: Helleborus orientalis aka Lenten rose hellebore. Type of Plant: This is a perennial that is evergreen and grows best in part shade to full...
Fresh, Fast, Vegan and Delicious
You want to eat a healthy, vegetable based diet but there are some days when you also need your meal to be easy and fast…while remaining fresh. Let...
Early Spring Garden Helps
Some of my callers to The Garden Lady have asked, "What should I be doing this early in the spring?" When the season is just beginning it's...