By Claire Jones
Every spring, I watch the same ritual unfold. Gardeners head to the nursery full of optimism. They load their carts with compost, fertilizer, lime, “plant food,” maybe a bright new bag promising bigger blooms or deeper green lawns. They come home and begin spreading amendments generously, convinced they are giving their plants exactly what they …
Continue reading "From the Ground Up – The Importance of Soil Testing"
Early spring bird feeding changes almost overnight. All winter the feeders were busy — chickadees arguing, sparrows squabbling, woodpeckers tapping on frozen mornings — and then one day in March, silence. Nothing has gone wrong. Your garden has simply shifted from cafeteria to nursery. Early Spring Bird Feeding: The Winter Transition During winter, birds survive …
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What to look for in the garden after winter: check plants, soil, wildlife, winter damage, and the first spring tasks after snow melts. Weeks of extreme cold, ice, and snow, when I see the first bare ground it feels like a turning point. Most gardeners walk outside and immediately feel the urge to clean up. …
Continue reading "When the Snow Finally Melts: What to Look for First in Your Garden"
Will weeks of sub-zero cold damage hydrangeas, berries, and other garden plants? Understanding winter survival in garden plants is more complicated than temperature alone. How Winter Survival Works in Garden Plants After a stretch of extreme winter weather — nights dropping below 0°F and days stuck in the teens and twenties for weeks, combined with …
Continue reading "Snow Is Protection: Understanding Winter Survival in the Garden"
Neonicotinoids—commonly called neonics—are the most widely used insecticides in the United States. Introduced in 1994, these systemic pesticides are now found in hundreds of products, including sprays, seed treatments, soil drenches, tree injections, and even veterinary products. Over the past three decades, scientific evidence linking neonic exposure to environmental harm—and potential human health risks—has continued …
Continue reading "Updated: Pesticide Free Nurseries and Seed Suppliers"
Cultivated Italy: Gardens, History & Vineyards is a curated 14-day journey from Rome to Venice designed for travelers who want to experience Italy deeply through its gardens, villas, art, and landscapes. The tour includes expert guides, private coach transportation, admissions to more than twenty extraordinary sites, and special experiences such as truffle hunting in …
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Birds have many strategies to survive without our help, but as a concerned birder, I like to think that offering nutritious food tips the balance in their favor during extreme weather. Mortality during prolonged cold snaps is significantly higher for birds, and studies have shown that survival improves when birds have reliable access to backyard …
Continue reading "Extreme Weather Strategies for Birds"
As I write this, a major winter storm is on its way, bringing the familiar mix of snow, ice, and biting cold. For gardeners, these moments always spark the same question: Should I be doing something? The answer is: sometimes yes, often no — and occasionally, absolutely not. A winter garden is not dormant in …
Amaryllis bulbs are a popular Christmas gift and with the proper care, you can have a beautiful winter/early spring blooming bulb for many years.
After months of seed trays under lights, misting, thinning, hardening off, and finally planting out, there comes the best part of all — cutting armfuls of flowers and bringing them inside. This is where seed starting turns into something tangible, generous, and joyful: the cutting garden. The phrase cutting garden can sound a bit elitist. …
Continue reading "The Cutting Garden: From Seed Trays to Mason Jars"
Originally posted in 2019, this seed-starting article has been viewed more than 3 million times over the past six years. Recently updated and refreshed, it reflects both evolving techniques and enduring gardening habits. As January arrives and garden planning begins in earnest, seed starting once again rises to the top of every gardener’s mind—marking the …
Continue reading "Seed Starting Made Easy"
Decorating the historic Manor House at Ladew Topiary Gardens in Monkton, Maryland has been a cherished tradition for more than forty years, with local designers and Garden Clubs transforming its rooms into festive holiday splendor. This December, I was honored to be invited to decorate one of the rooms and selected the elegant Dining Room—a …
Continue reading "Christmas Meadow: Bringing Ladew’s Gardens Indoors"
