Crape myrtles are popular plants, especially this time of year while they’re blooming.

Unprecedented times this spring like never experienced before by most of us has brought change in and around our communities, state and country. And while many could not go to work or socialize, and most had to change routines for meaningful gatherings or observances for loved ones or in wor…

I doubt many of you know this week is National Mosquito Control Awareness Week. It’s a week declared by the American Mosquito Control Association to educate us about the dangers of these pests and how to control them.

It is that time of year, when people are out in the garden, but with COVID-19, many people who have never gardened before are starting a garden. Those who live in town or in apartments may not have room for a garden but can still grow plants. One such way is to use a growing bag.

This is the time of year is when I get lots of questions about ways to eliminate fleas. Not just on pets, but also in yards and indoors.

“Let me tell you ‘bout the birds and the bees. And the flowers and the trees. The moon up above. And a thing called love.” If you are like me, you can’t help but remember and sing the tune along with these words.

Well, it appears that it’s time again to release some of the beneficial Trickogramma wasp.

Because of the state of the world we are having to change the way we normally do things. The Victoria County Master Gardener Association chose to have our monthly meeting via Zoom.

This past week, I’ve had reports of some “very nervous black wasps” quickly flying all around outdoor areas and indoor areas.

It’s gonna get hot out there. Those late cool fronts that came through in May are just a fond memory now. The heat is ramping up, but with some care, your gardens and you can avoid the heat-related stress.

Our son knows I love plants. When he visits, we go to the nursery to find a new plant to add to my collection. Last summer we found a unique and appealing plant called the money tree plant, Pachira aquatica. It has been a delightful, easy-care addition to my plant family.

Throughout years of gardening, I have learned about many different natural alternatives for all sorts of garden methods.

From what I hear, most gardeners’ vegetable gardens are producing well.

If you are searching for an eye-catcher to add to your garden for a patriotic day like Memorial Day, you might want to consider Clerodendrum thomsoniae, bleeding heart vine, aka bleeding glory bower, bag flower, beauty bush and glory bower.

One of the most common questions I get from new gardeners is how and when to water their lawns, trees and gardens. It is often a debate between gardeners as to when you should water, morning or evening?

I acquired a small potted plant last year that was labeled Giant Turk’s Cap, so I had a real surprise when the first blooms appeared. They dangled straight down from slim, arching stems with frilly, deeply pinnately-lobed petals. These five petals were about 2-1/2 inches long and curled back…

Many gardeners also love birding. Not all birder’s carry binoculars, water bottles and spend hours in the wild watching for an unusual variety of bird species to fly by.

In my mind, mothers and flowers go together. This Mother’s Day consider giving the mother in your life a blooming plant that will last longer than a floral bouquet.

One of the pleasures of walking in a park or forest can be all the trees and wildlife. But have you ever noticed all the different varieties of leaves?

I wrote an article on July 23, 2009, for this column on preparing a landscape garden and planting cacti plants. I have been intrigued with cactus and how they can survive the most inhospitable growing conditions, their magnificent forms and their beautiful flowers. It’s amazing that even the…

Spring gardening is in full swing, despite some rather unusual weather conditions.

Have you ever wondered the difference between succulents and cacti? Succulents are plants that store water in their stems, roots, and leaves whereas cacti are fleshy plants that store water but, by description, have areoles (spine cushions), making all cacti a part of the larger group of suc…

Spring is definitely here and many new and veteran gardeners are busy working their gardens and flower beds.

We see a new color trend nearly every year.

As a child, I remember my mother always having a potted aloe vera plant growing in our kitchen window and potted African violets growing in our living room windows. The beautiful violet flowers were for looks, and the aloe vera was used on cuts, burns and any insect stings we kids got.

Recently, I read that the fiddle-leaf fig is the plant for this decade. It is considered the trendiest plant for inside sun rooms and outside patios.

If you have ever noticed small holes, made in neat rows on the trunk of a tree, you are probably looking at the damage caused from a yellow bellied sapsucker.

In a normal year, it usually begins when we all receive our first gardening catalogue in the mail during winter — or see a display of spring flowers in a garden center.

I never realized having a pandemic would mean so many people would quickly become gardeners.

A few years ago, a hastily purchased bag of “expanding” potting soil introduced me to coir.

Not many people on the planet today appreciate the soil in their yards.

Who doesn’t enjoy a dazzling sunset? That is what we tried to capture during the time we built the house in which we live today.

March is usually the beginning of busy times in our yards and gardens. Mowing, weeding, pruning, raking, transplanting, fertilizing, watering, oh my! But don’t we love it?

A gardener works with soil and plants effectively alongside nature to create beauty in flowers, shrubs, trees and vegetables. The knowledge of the synergy between man-made efforts and nature’s complexities can produce varied types of gardens.