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In fact, members of this genus are widely studied for their natural ability to resist fungi, because they produce antifungal chemicals. This would make it seem like you never have to worry about disease in bergenia… But you know how fungi can develop resistance to synthetic fungicides? Resistance does not necessarily imply immunity, and the same thing can happen with the chemicals that plants make to defend themselves. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products....

As gardeners, however, we are more concerned with the ground that we have in our own plots. The more we know about this vital commodity, the better plants we produce, and the better our gardens become. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. What Is Soil? The earth beneath our feet is a mixture of organic material that comes from decayed plants and animal matter, particles of rocks, minerals, air, water, and the small creatures that live in it....

We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. So for ideas and inspiration, it’s always a good idea to check out what gives a good showing in your neighborhood, local parks, and municipal plantings. And to get your Halloween on, have a look at our choice of 13 of the best trees and shrubs with outstanding orange fall colors!...

This is an all-inclusive resource that incorporates material from “The Audubon Society Master Guide to Birding” (1983), “National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds: Eastern Region” (1994), and “National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds: Western Region” (1994). From the Black-bellied Whistling Duck, with its red bill and pink legs, to Morelet’s Seedeater, the tiny buff darling of the Rio Grande Valley, you’ll find descriptions of over 800 North American species in this comprehensive volume....

A relatively quick read, this book is packed with enlightening moments and interesting perspectives, particularly that of the Bee, which the authors present in a clean, easy to digest way. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. Plus, there are lots of beautiful photographs to drool over. Here’s what we’ll cover in this review: I double checked and, sure enough, it was the editor emeritus of Bee Culture, a beekeeping magazine that still finds a home in the magazine rack at my parents’ house....

We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. Whatever type of outdoor space you are decorating this autumn, you’ll probably want to include the standard harvest season decorations like hay bales and pumpkins. But don’t forget other types of decor you can use to create a warm and cozy seasonal scene. Pumpkins Hmm, what to decorate with for autumn?...

And with the right care after flowering, these showy ornamentals will last for years. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. And while many who receive them as gifts or purchase them to adorn their homes discard the bulbs after the flowers fade, they’re easy to save for future use. In USDA Hardiness Zones 9 to 11, you can plant them in your garden where they’ll produce beautiful flowers in the spring each year....

So why bother to brighten your garden at night? Well, it’s a cliché but true all the same – many of us now see the garden as an extra room, an extra living space that we want to use and enjoy. So it stands to reason that we want to spend as much time in it as possible – even when the moon’s out. There’s a number of different ways you can go about lighting your garden and most of them you should be able to complete with only minimal (although vital) professional help....

Collecting and saving or planting flower seeds is such a satisfying way to appreciate the full life cycle of plants grown in our gardens. It’s economical and helps to ensure a beautiful garden filled with your favorite flowers next season. There are so many benefits to using seeds that you collect yourself to keep your flower garden going from year to year. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products....

Whether you’re growing it as a hedge, as a foundation planting, or even as an individual specimen in your ornamental garden, the barberry bush is one to consider if you’re looking for a hardy, adaptable, low-maintenance option that’s appealing throughout the year. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. But not all barberry shrubs are alike....

We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. Plus, this succulent is nontoxic and fun to propagate! In this article we’ll dig deep into the mysterious origins of this sedum as well as discussing its sun, water, and soil preferences. We’ll also take up the daunting topic of repotting this delicate plant, cover other maintenance points you’ll want to know about – and even contemplate some captivating varieties....

Along with poinsettias, they’re often found at florists’ shops and grocery stores around the country during the holiday season. But are these azaleas (Rhododendron simsii) viable as long-term houseplants? Will they bloom again? You might be asking yourself these questions and more, especially if a friend has just gifted you a graceful, flowering houseplant with a base wrapped in shiny foil. In this guide, we’ll answer all of your questions....

We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. Here’s a peek at where this tale will take us: What Is String of Hearts? String of hearts (Ceropegia woodii) is an evergreen perennial that grows long, climbing and trailing vines covered with small, succulent, heart-shaped leaves. The fleshy leaves of this plant, which is also known as rosary vine, are oppositely arranged on vines that have long internodes – leaving much of the wiry-looking stem visible....

But then along comes the tree philodendron, sometimes called lacy leaf, split leaf, or horsehead philodendron, a species that’s so large and bold you can’t help but take notice. It goes by various other common names as well, including panda or fruit salad plant. As an aside, while we’re on the topic of names, this species is actually no longer classified as a philodendron, according to the botanists who are experts in taxonomy....

She would then slice the inside flesh into circular “chips,” which she would serve to us with a sprinkling of salt. This amazing treat was the reason for my insistence as an adult that we have kohlrabi in our own gardens. The lovely cabbage flavor and crisp, juicy texture is strikingly similar to the way the inside of a broccoli stem tastes. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products....

Gooseberry or currant maggots are tiny pests that burrow into currants and gooseberries, and devour the pulp and seeds inside. That hungry maggot is the larval form of the currant fruit fly, aka the yellow currant fly. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. Fortunately, this guide will help you identify and control these little pests....

One of the more common garden pests, these minute organisms feed on the bark, fruit, and leaves of perennial trees and shrubs using their tiny, straw-like mouthparts. Different species suck different fluids from the plant, ultimately resulting in the slow depletion of vital plant nutrients. Infested plants typically appear water stressed, with yellowing leaves and premature leaf drop. Plant parts that remain heavily infested may ultimately die. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products....

Whether it’s a surprise birthday arrangement, impulse-purchase market bouquet, or an armload of cutting garden blooms, you’ll want to make it last as long as possible. In our article on keeping fresh flowers fabulous, we offer guidance for keeping a floral arrangement attractive for a week or more. We mention using the packet of floral food that generally comes with a bouquet, dish, or vase arrangement. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products....

Along with being a food crop for livestock and pets, this plant shines as an easy-care, affordable cover crop, especially when planted in the fall. It will improve the soil, suppress weeds, and control erosion from winter rains. Grown as an annual or perennial, it’s also a good source of mulch, and a prime addition to the compost pile. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission....

From vivid pinks to moody dark maroons, in an almost endless variety of patterns, these tropical plants make a strong statement in beds, borders, and containers. And they’re easy to grow. Ideal for beginner gardeners, they can be grown as perennials in USDA Hardiness Zones 10-11, and as annuals everywhere else. We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission....