NO, I WAS NOT BORN IN WACO, TEXAS, nor do I play the banjo. And no, I never worked at Disneyland, though these days I feel as if I live in a fairytale, if not a theme park exactly. Lately, nonetheless, I have developed something in common with Steve Martin (and Amy Sedaris and Jon Related posts: a less-common autumn clematis MANY OF US GROW OR HAVE GROWN SWEET AUTUMN CLEMATIS,… Originally posted...

PRUNING, DIVIDING, EDGING, MULCHING, AND WISECRACKS were on the program yesterday when Bob Hyland and I began Season 2 of the workshop series we’d debuted in 2009, renewing our long-ago teaching partnership. But this year, we tried something different: We met for breakfast and class time in my garden, before caravanning over to his Loomis Related posts: 2010 events: in and around margaret’s...

THE TALK WAS OF LIVING MULCH, meaning groundcovers, on this week’s Robin Hood Radio podcast, because it’s the perfect time to divide your best ones up (or buy some!) and get some needy areas of the garden covered in weed-thwarting beauty. Speaking of which, I’m going outside to do that right now, but not before Related posts: radio podcast: mulch, mulch and more mulch WOO-HOO! MY...

I SOLEMNLY SWEAR…well, at least until I get to the garden center, I do. No, it won’t be the astro turf that gets me, dear Andre the Doodler, no worry there, but the occasional garden ornament does seem to be calling my name. You? What can’t you resist that you know you ought to, friends? Related Related posts: doodle by andre: shear ingrates AFTER ALL THAT TENDER CLIPPING AND GENTLE...

WHAT FLOWERS DO YOU PLANT in the vegetable garden to encourage good pollination of your food crops? That was the great question raised the other day in the Urgent Garden Question Forum by member NanZ. Want to hear the many answers (or better yet, come on over and give one of your own)? Here’s your Related posts: from the forum: domestic flaps, winter shrubs IPROMISED TO SELECT AND FEATURE THE BEST...

I KNOW A LOT OF PLANTS BY THEIR PROPER NAMES, but when it comes to “weeds,” as we term unwanted garden visitors that seem to just come with the territory, my knowledge really pales. So lately, on days not conducive to outdoor work, I’ve been studying up a bit from some great weed-identification websites, so Related posts: putting a fine edge on things OK, I WILL ADMIT TO A BIT OF A COMPULSION…...

It does not take too much effort for getting creative with your landscaping. You can just take all the old thoughts and use it in a totally different way. Find ways of making your flowerbeds all the more appealing or just turn the ground that you are currently not using into the main point of focus. Try and do things you have never tried before. Little bit of an extra effort in your landscaping projects...

IS YOUR GARDEN ON THE LEVEL? THE SUBJECT OF RAISED BEDS keeps coming up in the Urgent Garden Question Forum, and now the topic has turned to the ever-so-tricky aspect of how to build them on uneven ground. Been there, done that. I thought it might best be answered in pictures: I’m a believer that each Related posts: from the forum: ideas for raised beds WHAT CAN A RAISED BED BE BUILT FROM, and what…...

If you want to get a landscaping, you are going to need to choose a landscaping Architect. Of course you could always do it yourself, but few people have the knowledge and expertise that is necessary here to come up with a proper and pleasing design. When it comes to finding a landscaping designer, there are a few things in particular that you are going to want to look for, and a few issues you will...

Water garden landscaping is actually dependent on what form of water structure and concept the home owner prefers. There are several water features that one might ad to the garden. Among these, those that stand out are ponds, waterfalls and fountains. These water structures come in different shapes, sizes and concepts and can actually add a lot of ambience and beauty to a garden. Benefits Of Water...