A big, heart-shaped box of candy is the traditional Valentine gift. But this year, why not choose a calorie-free treat for the one you love? A dozen roses are pretty, but they only last a week or two. Our beautiful bulbs and bare-root perennials make perfect gifts for every gardener. Year after …

All beautiful gardens share one characteristic in common: dynamic texture. Different shapes and sizes are what make a garden complete. Many of us skip out on that one element that adds true drama to our perennial borders. Flowers on upright spikes stand out a mile in the garden and add the extra …

This time of year we count on a giant rodent to predict whether or not spring is near. Hmm... maybe we gardeners would be better off to look to the botanical world for the best signs that spring has finally arrived. After the daffodils and crocus have melted away with the snow there are a few …

Stately, grand, luxurious, and mysterious: Hostas are one of the most beautiful choices for any shady garden. As beautiful as these perennials are, it's hard to believe they are so hardy and easy to grow. Even novice gardeners can enjoy cultivating Hostas for their gorgeous foliage and fragrant …

Almost everyone agrees that spring is one of the most beautiful seasons in the garden. But I've often wondered why so many people associate gardens and gardening only with spring. What about the beautiful daylilies, Asian and Oriental lilies, butterfly bushes and hydrangeas of summer? Who could …

It happens every year about now - those tulips and daffodils that we greeted with such joy in the spring have become eyesores. You may even find yourself wishing that you'd never planted those pesky spring bulbs. Because now you get to look at all those ugly yellow leaves lying all over the ground …

Woodland gardens are beautiful in every season. Snowdrops, daffodils and other early bloomers give way to lush green ferns and hosta, followed by toadlilies and hardy cyclamen. And finally, in winter, the trees themselves provide the beauty. Paths lead forward through the trees to an unseen …

One thing you learn if you do a lot of container gardening, either indoor or out, is that almost anything can serve as a container in a pinch - and that some unlikely prospects can end up looking quite elegant with a bit of attention.  •  Sure, you can go to the store and buy a flowerpot. This is …

I used to hate winter because it seemed to come only in black, white and shades of gray with a bit of brown thrown in - and an occasional evergreen tree. Now I love black - it's one of my wardrobe staples - slimming and sophisticated. But that's when I'm wearing it - not nature. Nature needs color …