by Kerry Ann Mendez   Spring is around the corner and many have a bad case of spring fever. Here are a few timely tricks to jump-start our flower gardens.   A well balanced snack can make a huge difference. As spring temperatures rise, plants surge into new growth, relying on energy stored in roots. A granular fertilizer, in the neighborhood of 5-5-5, can generate head-turning results. The fastest and easiest method for applying fertilizer is with a spreader, or hand casting, right before it

 by Rochelle Greayer     I am headed to the airport shortly to hop a plane to Seattle. I haven’t been to Seattle since a couple of weeks before I was married. I remember three things about that trip: 1. We dropped the transmission of our car on one of the most remote of the San Juan Islands and had to be rescued by the car rental company. 2. That is where I was when Princess Diana died – I first read it on the front page of a newspaper someone was reading at the next table while we had

by Rochelle Greayer    Texture features large in this loosely planted arrangement that I am dubbing ‘Feathery Fall Fireworks’. Once again, I hope this inspires you beyond the typical container garden planting of mums for this fall season. My personal preference for container gardens is for plants that aren’t quite so dense and allow for a little bit of movement. I started with the cuphea Vermillionaire™ – this tough as nails plant was still alive, blooming, and quite pretty despite the last many

by Rochelle GreayerYears ago, when the Perennial Plant Association named Baptisia australis their plant of the year for 2010, I promptly bought five and planted them in my garden.  They were new-to-me at the time and they were lauded for being low maintenance and long lived. Perfect.Then, the next spring, I accidentally weeded out every single one of them.It is hard to recover from gardening disasters like that.  I didn’t even realize my mistake until months later when I wondered where my ‘new’

by Kerry Ann MendezAs a garden designer and popular lecturer, I get feedback from thousands – no, tens of thousands – of gardeners who crave high-impact, low-maintenance gardens. They want ‘drop-dead’ gorgeous plants that also benefit pollinators without requiring a lot of water, fertilizer or handholding….and that don’t drop dead after being planted. Here are some of my ‘Beauty and Brawn’ perennial picks: Dianthus ‘Paint The Town Magenta’ and ‘Paint the Town Fuchsia’ These drought tolerant,

by Susan MartinAs the gardening season comes to a close, now is the time to look back and reflect on all of the things your garden has taught you this year. What are you thankful for this November? Here are a few ideas to help you get your list started.I’m not sure what it is about autumn that stirs something inside me and spurs on the emotions of feeling thankful. Maybe it’s the approaching holidays, or maybe it’s the warm fall colors juxtaposed against cerulean blue cloudless skies. As I rake

by Jane Beggs-JolesSure, sometimes it’s great to go big. Nachos, for instance. Small is just a couple of sad tortilla chips on a plate.But sometimes going big isn’t the right call. This is especially true for plants. We’ve all seen the yard with a huge tree blocking the front window. That cute little Colorado blue spruce grew up to be a forest-sized specimen, and a suburban yard is not big enough for its magnificence.Luckily, plant breeders have done some great work developing smaller versions

by Rochelle GreayerIt goes with the territory that get to try out lots of new plants. Most are nice – but if they can’t pass muster then they don’t stand a chance of getting a write up here.Definition of Passing Muster:They have to survive and thrive without any special care, which might not even include regular watering.I’m tough to please when it comes to low maintenance but still looking nice and thriving.This fall (2016), follows an unseasonably hot and dry summer. Lots of plants struggled