By Claire Jones
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 …
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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"
Repurposing a fresh-cut Christmas tree into a winter wildlife buffet is the ultimate form of recycling. Instead of hauling your tree to the curb, set it up outdoors as a bird feeding station and enjoy weeks of entertainment. I placed mine beside my existing feeder last year and spent hours watching birds feeding, chirping—and the …
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As the gardening season winds down and the first hard frosts darken the dahlia foliage, the real work begins. Dahlias won’t survive a mid-Atlantic winter in the ground, but with just a bit of care they can be saved, multiplied, and brought back into bloom next summer even stronger than before. I always think of …
Continue reading "Digging and Storing Dahlias — A Fall Ritual Worth Doing Well"
There’s nothing quite like lilies for drama in the summer garden. Towering stems topped with exotic blooms perfume the air and stop visitors in their tracks. This spring, I was lucky enough to receive a gorgeous selection of Oriental and Species lily bulbs from Longfield Gardens — and I couldn’t wait to get them into …
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Floating above the border on long, willowy stems, Japanese Anemones (Anemone hupehensis) are stalwart perennials that bring elegance and longevity to the garden. Unlike many perennials that fade after only a few seasons, Japanese Anemones are dependable performers—I’ve had clumps blooming faithfully for over 30 years. Reliable and deer resistant (not deer proof!), they spread …
Continue reading "Windflowers in Fall: The Enduring Beauty of Japanese Anemones"
Few plants spark as much debate as the butterfly bush (Buddleia davidii). Garden centers sell it for its showy blooms and its promise to draw in butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees. On the surface, it feels like the ultimate win-win: beauty for us, deer proof, and nectar for pollinators. But dig a little deeper, and the …
Continue reading "Should You Plant a Butterfly Bush? The Benefits and the Drawbacks"
It happens every summer - honey extraction. After babying the bees, feeding, monitoring, re-queening, splitting, and just plain worrying about them, now is the moment of truth. How much honey did they deposit in the combs for me to rob from them? I won't leave you in suspense - I extracted 120-130 pounds from two …
Continue reading "Spinning Honey – Honey Extraction Start to Finish"
Introduced in 1919 in packing material from China and starting in Tennessee, Japanese Stiltgrass, Microstegium vimineum, has rapidly spread across the eastern United States and as far west as Texas, and become a menace to native plants. Spreading from seeds that can remain viable for 5- 7 years, stiltgrass can appear in lawns, ground covers, …
Continue reading "Japanese Stiltgrass Strategies"
