Composting
What Is Composting? Composting is a biological process that decomposes organic materials into a high-quality soil amendment. This process occurs in nature but can be accelerated and improved under...
Author: Terasa Lott
Invasive Plant Spotlight: Sweet Autumn Clematis
If you’ve been noticing masses of showy white flowers rambling over vegetation along the roadsides, it might be Sweet Autumn Clematis (Clematis terniflora). Also known as Sweet Autumn Virginsbower,...
Vinca: The Trouble with Common Names
Latin scientific names can be challenging to pronounce but are tremendously important. We can communicate without ambiguity because each plant has only one scientific name. In contrast, a plant may...
My, What Beautiful Bracts You Have
Plants are often prized for their flowers, but that isn’t the case for the Poinsettia. The showy portions of this popular holiday plant aren’t petals or even flowers at all. Instead, they are...
Holiday Cactus
The Poinsettia may be the most iconic holiday plant, but the Thanksgiving cactus is my favorite because of its sentimental value. About 18 years ago, I purchased what I thought was a Christmas...
Too Much Basil?
Basil (Ocimum basilicum) is one of my favorite culinary herbs. It’s relatively easy to grow and is available in many cultivars, some of which are quite decorative. A member of the mint family, it’s...
White Isn’t Always A Beautiful Sight
We had measurable snow at my house twice in two weeks! I picked up my camera each time to capture the beauty of the pure white frozen precipitation blanketing the bleak winter landscape. The snow...
Rutabagas And Turnips: What’s The Difference?
Fall is the time for root vegetables like turnips and rutabagas. My grandfather (Pop) loved both, especially rutabagas, and my grandmother (Nan) prepared them specifically for him. At the time, I...
Mailbox Planters Can Be A Challenge
First impressions are critical when selling a home, and I give credit to the former owners of our house for choosing a rather unique mailbox post. Instead of a traditional post designed to support a...
Keep Trees Healthy To Stave Off Ambrosia Beetles
A few years ago, my husband and I added two Eastern redbuds (Cercis canadensis) to our front yard. Each spring, I look forward to their tiny magenta flowers followed by the emergence of heart-shaped...
Shamrocks and St. Patrick’s Day
If you visit your favorite garden center in late February or early March, you’ll likely find shamrock plants to coincide with the St. Patrick’s Day holiday. The myths and folklore...
Anthurium: Easy Houseplants That Offer Long-Lasting Color
While I’ve spent a fair amount of time tending to outdoor plants, my experience with indoor plants was relatively non-existent. The curiosity of the feline members of my household was such that...
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