Growing and propagating phalaenopsis orchids Phalaenopsis orchids are the most beginner-friendly orchid available, yet they reward experienced growers with years of repeat blooming and genuine beauty. Known as the Moth Orchid for the way their blooms resemble moths in flight, they are forgiving, long-lived, and well suited to typical home environments. Overview Phalaenopsis are monopodial … Continue reading Phalaenopsis Orchid
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Peony
Perennial bush. The peonies (Paeonia spp.) in my garden are cherished gems, weaving a tapestry of joy and beauty. With their lush, extravagant blooms, they transform the landscape into a paradise of colors, from soft pastels to bold hues. Each spring, their arrival is a breath of fresh air, a poetic dance that heralds the … Continue reading Peony
Growing sweet potato as water plants
Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) is a surprisingly versatile and rewarding plant to grow in an aquatic setup. It is not a true aquatic plant, but it thrives as an emersed or semi-aquatic plant, meaning the roots and lower vine stay submerged while the foliage grows above the waterline. How it works Sweet potato is grown … Continue reading Growing sweet potato as water plants
Feeding juvenile koi
Juvenile koi under 1 year old grow quickly and do best when feeding is matched to both their size and the water temperature. The right food supports steady growth, strong color, good body development, and healthy digestion, while the wrong pellet size or overfeeding can lead to wasted food, poor water quality, and stress. A … Continue reading Feeding juvenile koi
Begonia
Tender annual. Begonias are popular because they offer showy flowers or striking foliage, depending on the type, and many do well in containers, garden beds, and even indoors. The key to success is matching the begonia type to the light and moisture conditions you have. Main types of begonias Wax begonias - Small, bushy, rounded … Continue reading Begonia
Fern
Perenial. Ferns are among the oldest plants on earth, having thrived for more than 360 million years long before flowering plants ever existed. That ancient resilience translates beautifully into the modern northern garden, where ferns bring lush, layered texture to the shaded corners and woodland edges that so many other plants struggle to fill. Whether … Continue reading Fern
Currant
Currants are one of the most rewarding small fruits you can grow in a northern garden. Hardy enough to handle brutal northern garden winters, productive enough to fill your kitchen with berries year after year, and beautiful enough to earn a place in an ornamental border, they are a plant that truly earns its space. … Continue reading Currant
Blenheim Apricot
About the Blenheim Apricot The Blenheim (also called Royal Blenheim or Royal) is widely considered the gold standard of apricots. An heirloom variety originating in England and named after Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire, it was brought to California in the mid-1800s and became the dominant commercial apricot of the Santa Clara Valley for over a … Continue reading Blenheim Apricot
Mandarin Orange
Mandarin oranges are one of the best citrus varieties for container growing. They stay compact, produce fragrant blooms, and reward you with sweet fruit even in cold climates like Minnesota, where they thrive indoors during winter and outdoors in summer. Best varieties for containers These dwarf or semi-dwarf varieties perform especially well in pots. Satsuma … Continue reading Mandarin Orange
Hardy perennial food crops for shade
Not every corner of a garden gets full sun, and in wooded or partially shaded landscapes, that can feel like a limitation. But shade does not have to mean sacrifice. A surprising number of hardy perennial food crops thrive in low-light conditions, producing flavorful harvests year after year with minimal intervention. From the garlicky richness … Continue reading Hardy perennial food crops for shade