Winter Storage for Summer Bulbs and Tubers
Summer bulbs are the stars of my late summer garden. Dahlias, cannas, glads, acidanthera and eucomis keep the color going long after most perennials have faded. But in the northern half of the countryRead More
A New Backyard Cutting Garden Takes Shape
The cut flowers that are available at today’s farmer’s markets are nothing short of spectacular. Bunches of zinnias and sunflowers are now accompanied by irresistible mixed bouquets including dahlias, scabiosa, sea holly, lisianthus, lilies, bellsRead More
How and Why to Use Flower Fertilizer
When you think about it, a plant’s ability to make flowers out of nothing more than soil, water and sunshine is a pretty amazing feat. As flower gardeners, our task isRead More
Tropicanna: Wow Plants for Your Summer Garden
If you want to add a big splash of color to your garden with a very small amount of effort, plant some cannas. Their bold foliage, impressive size and brilliant red, yellow and orangeRead More
Dinnerplate Dahlias: Tips for Success
Dahlias are impressive plants. The sheer volume of their flower production is remarkable. They also offer an incredible range of flower sizes, styles and colors — more than enough to hold yourRead More
How a Floral Designer Chooses Flowers for Her Cutting Garden
After many years running a successful floral design studio, Alicia Schwede decided to take her business in a slightly different direction. She wanted to combine her work experience and creative talents, with her passion forRead More
Dahlias: Why You Can’t Always Get What You Want
January and February are the peak selling season for dahlias. It’s still months before we start shipping tubers, but dahlia lovers are always eager to reserve their favorites. They know from experience that theRead More
Acidanthera: Fragrant Flowers for Late Summer
Acidanthera is a lovely, summer-blooming bulb that deserves a place in every flower garden. Curiously, very few gardeners seem to know about it. Being burdened with an unappealing name doesn’t help. JustRead More
Late Summer Flower Bulbs Hit Their Stride
August is an exciting time in our trial garden. There’s something new to admire every single day. This month the stars of the show are summer bulbs, and in particular,Read More
Love Hummingbirds? Grow Some Crocosmia!
Hummingbirds have a weakness for red flowers. So even though it’s not MY favorite color, I always try to have a few red flowers in the garden — just for the hummingbirds. Some yearsRead More
