It’s that time of the year when my gardening mindset starts to shift from “what else can I start from seed?” to “how can I make the most out of a plant that’s done blooming| Blooming Backyard
At any given time throughout the growing season(s), I keep a running list in my head of how I can get more plants for my garden. Preferably for free. Preferably with very little effort. I’m| Blooming Backyard
Every year, right around the last week of May, my Instagram feed fills up with garden design inspiration from the Chelsea Flower Show that takes place in London. I don’t live in the UK and| Blooming Backyard
You know how, when you’re learning a foreign language, there’s a list of words and expressions that you start with first. You learn to say “hello” and “thank you” and “have a nice day” and| Blooming Backyard
It’s rare for me to dethrone my garden sweethearts. A couple of summers ago, I was telling you how blanket flower (Gaillardia) is THE plant to get if you want … The post 6 Reasons Why Geums (Avens) Are About To Become Your New Favorite Perennial appeared first on Blooming Backyard.| Blooming Backyard
If there’s a plant that goes well with everything, it’s Verbena bonariensis. And if you don't know what plant I’m talking about, that’s precisely the point. Verbena bonariensis (also known as purple vervain or tall| Blooming Backyard
A few years ago, one of my dear friends sent me this stunning book on peonies (written by Jane Eastoe and gorgeously photographed by Georgianna Lane) for my birthday. We’ve been friends for more than| Blooming Backyard
Baby, it’s cold outside! How cold? you ask. So cold that my rhododendrons have fainted. Your heart stops beating for a second if you don't know about this natural phenomenon. As I was looking outside| Blooming Backyard
One lingering side-effect of my first career as an EFL teacher is the constant nerding out over words. Or perhaps it was what pushed me into teaching languages in the first place (for about a| Blooming Backyard
You know that week between Christmas and New Year’s when it feels like time is dilating and contracting at the same time? When you want to do something but you can’t exactly pinpoint what and| Blooming Backyard
Every time I write about black-eyed Susans, I make it a point to mention how we shouldn’t prune these perennials in the fall. Not only do they look pretty covered in frost and snow, but| Blooming Backyard
I wonder if our readers can answer a quick pop quiz. Can you name an annual ornamental plant that: Grows in any type of soil with virtually no maintenance needs; Stays in bloom from summer| Blooming Backyard
Earlier this week, an email landed in my inbox that had me rolling my eyes in exasperation and exclaiming out loud This again? Haven’t I just done this? No, it wasn’t a work email or| Blooming Backyard
Can you prune plants in the summer? Yes, here are 15 perennials that will benefit from a summer pruning.| Blooming Backyard
When people hear that I spend my free time gardening and my work days writing about gardening, they assume I must have the perfect garden. This couldn’t be further from the truth; although I constantly| Blooming Backyard
Did you know that this is the year of the hosta? I didn’t just make that up. The National Garden Bureau (NGB) declared hosta “perennial of the year” in an effort to encourage home gardeners| Blooming Backyard
I usually draw inspiration for my articles from whatever is happening in my garden. But for this one, it’s different. What inspired this article was an unfortunate piece of advice on container gardening in a| Blooming Backyard
The best time to prune your magnolia (and how to do it right)| Blooming Backyard
It’s time to prune my buddleia. Obviously, I want to document this gardening job for our readers as I’m doing it. But I have to admit that I get a little bit nervous whenever I| Blooming Backyard
Ask any of my friends, and they’ll tell you how much I like to encourage plant ownership. But I don’t believe in buying just any houseplant though. There is such a thing as having the| Blooming Backyard
I remember first seeing a thick carpet of winter aconites while we were visiting a botanical garden a few years ago. Yes, we’re the kind of people who visit botanical gardens in winter. Warm and| Blooming Backyard
How late is it too late to write a geranium fall care guide? Usually, if a care guide comes late in the season, it’s because I procrastinate a great deal. I keep thinking and overthinking| Blooming Backyard
Planting tulip bulbs is one of those garden jobs that I would rather skip. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love having tulips blooming all over my garden in spring. But with this November predicted| Blooming Backyard
I often feel the need to defend growing annuals whenever the topic comes up in conversation. Most of the ornamentals in my garden are perennial, but there are always some annuals growing alongside them. Even| Blooming Backyard
