Spider plants are one of my favorite types of plants. They’re really easy to propagate and make more of, they don’t require very much attention at all, and they can really add a fun splash of foliage to any indoor space. Plus living in a home barely larger than the average tiny house, it’s nice...
Dahlias are a beautiful flower to cultivate in any garden because they come in a wide range of colors and sizes, and you can easily grow Dahlias from seed right at home. The plant size varies from species with plate-sized flowers on 6-foot plants to small border variants. Despite their wide variety, dahlias often have...
If you want big, healthy pumpkins, fertilizer matters — but it doesn’t have to be complicated. I’ve been growing pumpkins in my backyard for over a decade and I’ve tried just about everything. Here’s what actually works. Why Pumpkins Are Heavy Feeders Pumpkins are nutrient hogs. They’re growing a massive fruit on a sprawling vine...
Spider mites are a very common pest among indoor houseplants. They damage plants, like cactuses, by consuming juices from the inside of the plant. Even though cactuses generally look pretty tough, with their thick leaves and bases and thorny exteriors, they are susceptible to infection by spider mites. Treating cactus spider mites in a timely...
Mandevilla, which is sometimes called rocktrumpet, is a flowering perennial vine when grown in hardiness zones 10 and 11. In cooler climates, it grows as an annual. Gardeners like keeping this vine because of the stunning, pink flowers with yellow centers that the vine produces. All plants can experience health problems, just like us. One...
Basil is a really popular herb for gardeners everywhere. It’s easy to grow, produces amazing, fragrant leaves and flowers, and goes in a ton of different culinary dishes. My personal favorite way to use basil is in making pesto. But all plants can be susceptible to problems and basil is one of them. One of...
Acorn squash is a type of squash related to other summer varieties of squash, like zucchini. It’s often referred to as a winter squash because of its use in more winter culinary dishes. Acorn squash is an easy type of squash to grow that produces delicious food straight from your garden. Knowing when and how...
I have a long-running affinity for Christmas cactuses. They’ve been in my life pretty much since the day I was born. When I was young, my mom had a Christmas cactus that she got from her mom (and still has) that to this day still erupts in bright pink flowers every December. I feel lucky...
Backyard chicken keeping is an increasingly popular hobby that is experiencing a resurgence, and the Cornish Cross chicken is on the rise in popularity. More and more cities are rolling back ordinances that prevent keeping chickens on your property, leading to an uptick in interest. Meat chickens are also becoming increasingly popular as the cost...
If you want a hardy, native perennial wildflower in your garden that will wow guests, thrill your native pollinators, and attract Monarch butterflies, Showy Milkweed is just the flower for you. In this article, we’ll do a deep dive on this awesome wildflower, how to grow it, and what care considerations you should take. Additional...
If you’re a Pacific Northwest gardener with a shady, property and you need a flowering groundcover, there are few I’d recommend more than Trientalis latifolia, or starflower. It grows to be about 8 inches tall, creeps slowly, and produces lovely pink and white flowers from mid-spring to early summer. What is Trientalis latifolia? Trientalis latifolia,...
Tellima grandiflora is an excellent plant to add to any native flower garden in the Pacific Northwest, Alaska, and Montana. It forms a lush, spreading groundcover that is perfect for shady, damp gardens. In this article, we’ll explore the fringe cup flower, how to grow it, and everything else you need to know. What is...
