Focus on Flowers

Our native perennial coreopsis is a stalwart in many American gardens.

Amaryllis bulbs can be rebuilt so that they can bloom well the following winter indoors.

My current garden is a shadow of its former self...thanks to the urban deer population. However, a few stalwart plants persist.

Globe amaranth dries beautifully for winter bouquets.

Yarrow, “soldier’s woundwart,” “milfoil”—Achillea has many names and many uses.

During our hot Midwestern summers, it is good for pots to get some afternoon shade. Also, pots dry out more quickly, so it is best to plant annuals in the ground.

In very hot weather, remember to water your potted plants twice a day as the soil in pots dries out quickly.

Choose just a few plants that will need minimum attention, and plant something vigorous around the base of the post to soften it.

If I were to start over, and knowing what I now know, I would start with a plan and a clearer idea of the type of garden I wanted.

It was not until the 1920s that it was recognized that cattle that grazed on white snakeroot caused humans to die if they drank the cow’s milk.