“If you don’t learn and educate, you’re a laborer, not a gardener. A true gardener is always seeking answers.” —Rick Vuyst, August 3rd episode of Gardening Simplified (a great episode, well worth a listen or watch)
From creative plant placement to color theory, these gardens offer a master class in innovative design. In the first of ten lessons, you’ll discover how to create an immersive garden experience by using tall plants in areas other than the back of the border—think secret walkway or secluded sitting area. Get ready to take notes and apply these inspiring ideas in your own garden! Pictured: New York Botanical Garden’s Seasonal Walk, photo by Rob Cardillo.
Let’s tackle a hot topic: invasive plants. We know it’s a complex issue, so we’re here to help you learn what makes a plant truly invasive and why it matters for your local ecosystem. You’ll also discover smart alternatives to some of the most common troublemakers and gain the knowledge to make informed choices. This quick guide will help you keep your garden thriving and eco-friendly! Pictured: A good alternative for Scotch broom (left) is forsythia (right).
Here’s a quick cheat sheet to get you familiar with the five most popular types of hydrangeas—how to tell them apart, their common colors, and even when to prune them!
Want to learn more about hydrangeas? Check out our friends Eric & Christopher of Grow For Me Gardening’s new video, Guide to Hydrangeas.
School’s in session for garden design! From line and form to color and texture, master these fundamentals to create a stunning, harmonious outdoor space. It’s a crash course in creating gardens that make the grade! Pictured: When elevated and placed in an impressive container, this agave is given focal point status. Photo by: Rebecca Sweet.
Want to combat the biodiversity crisis right from your own backyard? Homegrown National Park® (HNP), co-founded by Doug Tallamy, shows you how. Their mission is simple: add native plants and remove invasive ones wherever possible. The HNP website offers easy steps to create your own habitat, whether you have acres or just a window box. The site’s highlight is their interactive HNP Biodiversity Map, where you can see your efforts join others across North America. It’s free to participate, and no expertise is needed. Every square foot of native plants makes a difference.
Visit HomeGrownNationalPark.
One of the best things we can learn—for both ourselves and our gardens—is how to deal with problems in our gardens in safe ways. Using neem oil is one common way to treat many pests and plant diseases naturally—for both indoor and outdoor plants. Learn more about how and when to use it to help keep your plants healthy and thriving.
JOIN US FOR OUR NEXT WEBINAR!
with Rebecca Sweet
Thursday, September 19 @ 6PM EDT*
*Unable to join us at that time? All registrants will receive access to the recording.
Eager to learn how to create a stunning garden that’s also low-maintenance? Using beautiful shrubs just might be the key! Join garden designer Rebecca Sweet for an exciting online webinar where she’ll share 7 essential tips for choosing the perfect varieties and show you just how to incorporate them into your garden for year-round beauty. Whether you’re just starting out or have years of experience, Rebecca will show you how to mix classic and new shrub varieties into your garden for vibrant color, texture, and structure—all just in time for fall planting!
($20 Registration)
Happy gardening!
Monarch update: Four of the eleven emerged yesterday, with more to come today and tomorrow! And another full-grown caterpillar showed up! No idea where he’s been hiding. A total of 12 now!
