One of my favorite groups of summer-blooming shrubs are flowering spiraeas. There are loads of new varieties, with both colorful foliage and flowers. Butterfly bush Abelia With the exception of big leaf hydrangea, oakleaf hydrangea and gardenia, the rest all bloom on new growth and can be pruned as much or as little before new growth begins. When we consider blooming shrubs, how long they bloom is just as important as the blooms themselves. Most summer-blooming shrubs are great to attract bees and butterflies, and many are deer-resistant. Gardenia  Rose of Sharon If your garden ne ..read more

Pollination in the plant world is very important to humans. It is estimated that one in every three bites of food we take is a result of pollination. Not only does pollination ensure that we have fruits and vegetables, but coffee to drink and chocolate to eat. When you think pollinators, the first thing that comes to mind are bees. While bees are leading pollinators, they get help from butterflies, hummingbirds, bats and some insects like beetles and flies. Flies are often the unsung heroes in pollination, ranking second after bees and often providing more consistent pollination in early sprin ..read more

Pumpkins come in an array of colors, shapes and sizes — from traditional to unique. JANET B. CARSON October and pumpkins are almost synonymous. While many think only of the mid-size orange jack-o’-lantern type, pumpkins, gourds and winter squashes come in a myriad of sizes and colors. From tiny Jack-B-Little forms to the competition giant pumpkins at county fairs, a wide variety of pumpkins and their relatives are readily available at local markets. Pumpkins are members of the cucurbit family, which means they are related to cucumbers, watermelons, squash and gourds. They all have hard, oute ..read more

Ornamental grasses come in a mix of sizes and offer texture, form, movement and seasonality to a garden. When many gardeners hear the word grass, they think of lawn grasses that are mowed weekly. But there is a wide array of ornamental grasses that add almost year-round interest in the home landscape, and most are beginning to shine right now. Ornamental grasses come in a very diverse mix of sizes, and the name ornamental grass includes true grasses, but also a wide range of plants that have a grass-like growth habit, including groundcover Mondo (Ophiopogon) and Monkey grass (Liriope) which ..read more

Aphids suck sap from plants, but luckily they are a delicacy for good insects like ladybugs. Summer is in full swing with hot and humid weather. Gardeners are tasked with watering to keep plants thriving, and to add insult to injury, pests are on the rise. Gardeners should survey frequently, looking for signs of problems. Finding an issue, identifying a cause and researching a solution can prevent a major disaster. There are insects and diseases that present similar symptoms. There are over 1 million described species of insects, and while some can do major damage to a garden, not all insect ..read more

Gardening encompasses flowers, vegetables and fruits, lawns and containers — both indoors and out. The type of gardening you enjoy will determine what tools you need to accomplish the tasks. The larger the yard, the more equipment you need. While some gardeners maintain large gardens, small and raised-bed gardens have become more popular, so the tools we need may have changed. The Root Slayer shovel is a must-have tool for gardens with rocks and roots. While some gardeners still use small tractors in the garden, many use a tiller or mini-tiller to turn soil. Lightweight mini-tillers can be l ..read more

The David Austin rose is one variety that blooms in partial shade. The most recognized flower in the world is a rose. It has been the symbol for love and for war, for beauty and for nationalities. It is also one of the oldest known flowers, with historical evidence showing fossils of roses that are 35 million years old. Through plant breeding and easy accessibility, the rose is more popular today than ever before. Roses come in a wide variety of sizes and colors. There are miniature roses, bush roses, tree roses and climbing roses. There are antique varieties and modern ones, wild ones and h ..read more

A sure sign that the garden season had begun was a bed of blooming bearded iris, commonly called flags, in grandma’s garden. Iris are well-loved perennials in the home landscape. The iris genus contains almost 300 species, with new hybrids appearing each year. The bearded or German iris, Iris germanica, is the most common species, but quite a few others perform just as well. Most species of iris are perennial plants that can be divided into two distinct types — rhizomes and bulbs. The common bearded iris is one of the rhizomatous types,  grown from a rhizome, an elongated stem planted at ..read more

Raised beds can help gardeners deal with both soil and mobility issues. Most of us have heard about the benefits of gardening. It is great exercise. It puts us in touch with nature. It can be relaxing and therapeutic, and it can also give us a sense of accomplishment, reduce depression and help prevent osteoporosis. But, continuing to garden as one ages can become a bit of a challenge. It gets harder to do some of the heavy lifting, bending and kneeling. Instead of giving up a favorite pastime, start gardening a little differently.</span>In Arkansas, some gardeners are blessed with gre ..read more

Roses are red … and pink and yellow and orange! Every Feb. 14, couples around the world celebrate their  love, and flowers are a common addition. This day is much more than a simple celebration, it is an important date for economies around the world, generating massive revenue for florists, restaurants and jewelers. Candy and card sales are also high. In 2020, a record $27 billion was spent on Valentine’s Day in the United States alone, according to the National Retail Federation. Why do we celebrate Valentine’s Day? There are quite a few theories, but most seem to focus on one of three ..read more