Home Garden Companion
Ilona's Garden Journal
I have large tomatoes, plenty of them...that is not the trouble. Hornworms. and cracking, those are the troubles. Right now, I am picking the fruits just turning red and ripening them on my window. Hornworms are officially called Manduca … [Read more...] about Tomato Troubles
Garden furniture I wouldn't be without What Can't You Live Without? Favorite Garden Accessories Garden Benches Chairs Firepits and Fire Bowls Playhouses Bird Baths, Feeders, Houses Swings and swingsets Picnic tables and … [Read more...] about Garden Furniture Brightens Up Outdoor Living
More Of What's Happening In My Garden Proof that there is hope for the Sweetgum tree I learned that I can't judge a winter's toll until June, and even then it remains to be seen what a tough summer may inflict on the garden in … [Read more...] about June Garden Report
Summer Lavender When we put in our stone walk many years ago, I envisioned it rimmed with a lavender hedge. Lavandula vera has been a feature lining the walkway, scenting the air, and providing the garden with charm ever since. The story … [Read more...] about Lavender, Lavender, Where Art Thou?
Lilies are one of the main joys of August, if you ask me. These are not the blooms of the Asian lilies that come earlier in the season, but those lushly fragrant Oriental lilies and the tall spires of Trumpet and Aurelian strains.These are … [Read more...] about August Lilies
The last post was about thistles, since I had been hard at work in the garden getting rid of as many as I possibly could manage, but there are lovely garden flowers that have thistle characteristics without their tendency to elbow everything else … [Read more...] about Globe Thistles And Other Nice Looking Xeriscape Plants
I don't know anyone who says they like this plant. We all call it a weed, and doggedly work to eradicate it from our yards. That has been one of my occupations of late, and I find there is something of an art to ridding the garden of Cirsium arvense, … [Read more...] about Canadian Thistles, Are They the Bane of your Garden?
I know many of you have done this, too, so I don't feel quite so guilty. So many times I know better, but I can't resist nature, not of plants or my own at times. We are past the season of planting roses... the heat of summer is coming, but a … [Read more...] about Where Should I Plant This Rose?
Fennel takes drought wellAfter the very remarkable weather we've had this summer, from damaging storms through wearying drought, the recent spate of rainstorms has brought something of normalcy to this Central Ohio garden. In fact, it is almost … [Read more...] about My Ohio Garden Resumes The Usual Summer Program
Butterfly within the Lilac BranchesEvery year, August feels too hot and dry to be digging and planting, but late August is an especially good time to give new perennials a start in the garden. The trouble with this time of year is mainly the hot … [Read more...] about August is time to divide and plant perennials
