We live on a planet pollinated primarily by bees. Bees fertilize most of our favorite flowers, and pollinate a third of the plants we eat. They are also the exclusive pollinator of several rare and imperiled wildflowers, including native monkshoods and lady's tresses orchids. Without these essential insects, farm productivity would plummet and wildflowers would become extinct. In short, bumble bees and other bees are essential for our own well being and the survival of a good deal of the world's biodiversity. Read Bumble Bees—The Essential, Indefatigable Pollinators
Plants & Gardens Blog
Into the Garden
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Bumble Bees—The Essential, Indefatigable Pollinators
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Wildflower Fever!—A Selection of Unusual Natives
Nowadays, I fill my garden with beautiful wildflowers. Besides increasing biodiversity in and of themselves by augmenting the shrinking populations and gene pools of native species, they provide a valuable source of food for insects and birds. Read Wildflower Fever!—A Selection of Unusual Natives
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Growing Chile Peppers
You can grow chile peppers just about anywhere in the United States and southern Canada, as long as you prepare your soil, nurture your seedlings properly, and provide the plants with their basic needs. Read Growing Chile Peppers
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Preserving Chiles
In midsummer, chile peppers mature, begin to ripen, and become more pungent. Some are fiery hot, while others are crisp, slightly sweet with just a hint of heat, and full of flavor. This is the time to put up that prize-winning corn relish, those pickled peppers, salsas of every kind, and hot pepper chutney. Read Preserving Chiles
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Aspidistra—An Alluring and Enduring Favorite
Aspidistra can endure temperatures as low as 23 degrees Fahrenheit and as high as 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Aspidistra can survive extreme levels of urban pollution and dust, as well as light levels as low as 25 footcandles. Finally, as if attuned to the contingencies of modern living, they are forgiving of our inauspicious watering habits. Read Aspidistra—An Alluring and Enduring Favorite
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Cardinal Flower—Spectacular Scarlet Blossoms That Hummingbirds Adore
In the early fall, as you approach the edge of a woodland stream or the banks of a secluded pond, you may glimpse a flash of red. This spark of scarlet is from what may be the most brilliant of our native blossoms, the cardinal flower. Read Cardinal Flower—Spectacular Scarlet Blossoms That Hummingbirds Adore
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Recycled Products—Turning Trash into Garden Tools
Recycling prevents global habitat destruction by providing industry with an alternative, ready source of "raw" material. It leads, therefore, to the conservation of energy, the reduction of industrial pollution, and the preservation of species biodiversity. Read Recycled Products—Turning Trash into Garden Tools
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Using Vines in the Garden
It's often said that vines are the best friends of a passionate gardener with a small urban lot. And it's true: There's no better way to splash color and texture around a postage-stamp property than by collecting plants that grow skyward rather than sideways. But this doesn't begin to give vines their due, for there are no more versatile creatures in plantdom. Read Using Vines in the Garden
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Flowering Vines 101
North America is the home of horizontal gardeners. A few trees and shrubs may creep into our landscapes, but our sight usually is directed down and straight ahead, making it easy for us to forget plants that grow up rather than hug the ground. Making it easy to forget flowering vines. Read Flowering Vines 101
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Growing Vines Successfully
Vines are a diverse group of plants. Most are easy to grow and require little care; however, a basic knowledge of their cultural needs is important for success in your garden. Read Growing Vines Successfully