I’m imagining that going to the National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, DC may be one of this country’s best springtime trips ever. This year, in 2015, the festival is from March 20 to April 12. I have not been there yet, but it is on my list of places to go. It no […]
I used to have a flowering crabapple in my backyard, and it was gorgeous in bloom – its lovely dark pink blooms created a big colorful canopy. Those few weeks when it was in bloom it was simply fabulous. But the rest of the summer months it was absolutely unsightly, just a tattered […]
If you’ve ever wondered what a border row of flowering ornamental trees would look like in your yard, this yard’s beautiful row of pears may give you some inspiration. When we drove past this beautiful house in a nearby neighborhood the other day, with its lovely, tidy, and uniform row of pear trees all in […]
Last week I had to have a large shade tree cut down in the front yard. It was a pretty nice tree, and had become a familiar part of the yard, so it was sort of sad to see it go. Several ash trees in the neighborhood had become invaded by the emerald ash borer […]
Many homeowners love seeing English ivy (Hedera helix) growing on structures, such as over the arched entryway of a house or on a wall in the landscape. It really can create a classic look, but there is one ‘structure’ in your yard that you may not want ivy to grow on. When ivy uses a […]
We have seen this plant installation a number of times, and it is unfortunate, because landscape plants aren’t cheap, and this tree’s enhancement to the yard could have been so effective in the right location. Some homeowners may take a liking to a certain landscape plant at the garden center and buy it without giving […]
FIND HELPFUL GARDEN LINKS THAT provide in depth information for plants, perennials, dividing perennials, tree selection, roses, color wheel, birding and wildlife. Plants Find Your U.S. Frost Dates (click on Onsite Resources tab) Find Your Hardiness Zone (click on Onsite Resources tab) Common Perennials Dividing Perennials Planting Perennials Gardening with Annuals Selecting Trees for Your […]
It takes decades for a tree to mature into a beautiful and valuable asset for your yard. And it can take only one afternoon to reduce it’s splendor into an unsightly spectacle, if long ago it was planted too close to the overhead utility lines. The heart break of it all can be even further […]
Just because you have a relatively new deck, and you are confident that it was built by a competent contractor, doesn’t mean that it does not need to be regularly inspected for safety. And older decks especially are prime candidates for more frequent safety inspections. Preserving and maintaining your deck involves more than simply cleaning […]
The National Trust for Historic Preservation has documented over 250 historic colors from its extensive research. The colors were influenced by popularity or fashion of a particular era, and the technology of paint manufacturing during that time. Choosing the perfect exterior colors for your house and yard (fences, arbors, trellis, outdoor furniture, wood planters, and […]
