Monarda, also known as bee balm, is my favorite perennial. It was love at first sight eleven years ago when I saw this beautiful perennial growing in my neighbor’s yard. I asked her what it was and told her how much I loved it. A week later, she showed up with several generous divisions of it. … Continue reading You had me at Monarda
I must humbly confess, I have not always had a green thumb. I killed every single plant I brought into our Boston apartment on Beacon Hill when we were first married. 15 years later, I know what I did wrong: I over watered them. You will kill more houseplants from over watering than you will from… Continue reading Houseplants – Indoor gardening – Part 1
Paperwhites and amaryllis bulbs are two terrific bulbs to force indoors with very little effort and very low maintenance. I have forced both indoors for over 11 years with a 0% failure rate. I have bought these bulbs everywhere from White Flower Farm and Johannsen’s to Sam’s Club, Home Dept and Target. They are usually all… Continue reading Paperwhite and Amaryllis Bulbs – Forcing Bulbs Indoors
As I write my list of hits and misses for Mel’s Green Garden 2009, one big hit was using clear fishing line for an invisible trellis. I used this all over my garden this past summer for my Grandpa Ott’s Morning Glory to climb. My daughter had an idea two summers ago that she wanted… Continue reading Invisible Trellis
Looking for a way to light up your garden in the evening? The White Cleome is your answer. The cleome comes in many colors, and I have planted this flower for all of my gardening years; but I fell in love with the white variety because of its ability to help light up the garden at… Continue reading The White Cleome
One of my garden’s big success stories this past summer was dinner-plate dahlias. I have tried to grow a variety of dahlias for years with little to moderate success, but for 2009, I tried a different growing approach and I enjoyed a bumper crop! Dinner-plate dahlias definitely won most improved flower of the summer. In… Continue reading Dinner Plate Dahlias
A productive fall in the garden is the key to an outstanding looking garden in the spring. Propagation Fall is the best time for propagation here in Wisconsin. Dividing can be challenging because it is hard to dig into a good looking garden knowing it won’t look so good after a division is made. But who… Continue reading Fall… three tasks for a great looking spring garden
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Don’t get discouraged by shade; Mother Nature knows no boundaries. While the shade might give you some limitations, beautiful shade gardens can and do exist. Many perennials, annuals and bulbs grow quite well in shade. Think ferns and bleeding heart — I love white bleeding heart. And there are gorgeous large blue hostas such as Elegans, Hadspen Blue, and… Continue reading Shade Garden
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