Landscaping Headlines
Easter Lilies: Thinking "Spring" on a Winter's Day
Punxsutawney Phil has delivered his prognostication, so now we can turn our thoughts to spring. Not that I'm ever concerned about the clairvoyant critter's actual prediction. But if winter has a "hump day," it's February 2 -- the calendrical midpoint of Old Man Winter's icy reign. 
Did the Groundhog See His Shadow?
Who is Punxsutawney Phil? And why do we ask whether he saw his shadow? For those who have never watched the movie, Groundhog Day, Punxsutawney Phil is the name of the famous groundhog in Punxsutawney, PA who annually predicts when spring will come based on whether he sees his shadow on February 2.
...Bulbs That Deer Don't Eat
Picture stepping out into the yard on a chilly day in early spring. Most of the snow is gone, but the bare earth, the gray or brown limbs of trees and shrubs, and the overcast sky all work together to put a damper on your spirits.
...Flowers That Smell Like Chocolate Make Me Think of....
Being the plant-lover that I am, it's difficult to get my mind off of plants once I start thinking of them. In fact, a far more likely scenario is that, when pondering a topic totally unrelated to plants, my mind will wander to the subject of gardening or landscaping.
...Barbarians Are Not Always Ugly
Americans who haven't taken the advice of the well-known bumper sticker that proclaims, "Kill Your Television!" have very likely seen the Capital One TV ads that show some scruffy-looking barbarians invading and rampaging their way across the screen. I hope people don't extrapolate from these ads that barbaric invaders are always ugly. Many of the invasive plants at war with our native fauna are anything but that.
...Hardscape Ideas With Kids in Mind
I don't have fond memories of hardscape as a child. My knees seemed always to find a way to become skinned when I was around pavement. Whether it was due to a fall at recess when in school, or due to wiping out when biking on vacation, scabs weren't shy about keeping my knees company.
...Groundhog Day 2012
is right around the corner. Let's be blunt. When it comes to Groundhog Day, there are two vocal ... Fond Memories of Bayberry Shrub
Plants can be special to us for a number of totally different reasons. First and foremost there are, of course, the various horticultural considerations. For example, we may value a plant because:
...Snow, What Is it Good For?
Generally speaking, I'm not a big fan of snow, which is why I'm thrilled my region (New England, U.S.) has not received much of it ,so far, this winter. If nothing else, there's the work involved in removing it from the driveway, etc. (and I've never been accused of being a workaholic!). No matter which method of snow removal you adopt, it's a hassle. Some prefer snowblowing to shoveling, whether they use gas snowblowers or electric snowblowers. But I say "no thank you" to both.
...What Are Your Landscaping Resolutions for the New Year?
Do you make resolutions for the new year about what you're going to do in the yard come spring? Planting a novel shrub such as a purple beautyberry (picture) and redesigning a flower bed are examples of resolutions for the new year popular with landscaping enthusiasts. Or if you're into hardscape, maybe you're contemplating a new patio or deck right now. 
Top 10 Trees and Shrubs for Spring
Birdwatching and landscaping can complement each other beautifully 
when you plant your landscaping with flowering trees and shrubs, such as dogwood trees (pictured here). Not only will the wild birds thank you for the plants, but you'll also be thanking yourself as you enjoy the splendor of their blooms in spring. Learn more about dogwood trees and the other flowering specimens that make my Top 10 list.
How to Shovel Snow
Nobody wants to shovel snow. Especially if you're in the midst of a severe winter, when you're tired of getting pelted with snowstorm after snowstorm and wonder if spring will ever return. But don't get depressed: follow my tips in this article on how to shovel snow to stay one step ahead of Old Man Winter. 
Reflections on Making Snowmen
What did we do before the internet? That is a rhetorical question, of course. I know perfectly well what we did, since I lived the majority of my life (up to this point) before the internet craze. It's just that, as with microwave ovens (but to a much greater degree), I occasionally like to stop and think just how dramatically the internet has changed everyday life. Otherwise, it's too easy to take this great boon for granted. Let me give you an example of how my wife and I use the internet daily -- almost as a reflex:
...How to Recycle Christmas Trees
During Christmas dinner, my mom and I were reminiscing about how, back in my childhood, our family used to make the trip to pick out a Christmas tree from a lot. I especially remember the times this trip occurred in the dark. The lot would be lit up with a combination of Christmas lights and incandescent bulbs (no fluorescents, which are much less romantic) strung up in a makeshift, ramshackle manner. There was enough light to cast a cool golden glow over the Christmas trees, but not enough to eliminate all those shadows where elves lurk.
Poison Control: How to Get Help for Childhood Poisonings
'Tis the season for the beloved plants of our Christmas traditions, with which we festoon our homes to fight off depression around the winter solstice. Combined with the houseplants we use to green up the wintertime home, they form an indoor garden of joy -- but also one of danger, potentially.
When Plants Disappoint Us
When plants disappoint us, sometimes it is due to our own stubbornness. My own experience with blue poppies is a case in point. I first saw them in the Thuja Gardens of Northeast Harbor, Maine, while my wife and I were on our annual vacation in the Bar Harbor area. We fell in love with these blue beauties instantly and vowed to grow some in our own yard. So we scoured the garden centers in Maine in search of blue poppies, bought some, and planted them when we returned home.
...Christmas and the Winter Solstice
As the winter solstice approaches, I think about its significance, especially for ancient peoples. Celtic mythology relates a wonderful winter solstice story regarding what we now know as a plant used in Christmas decorations: holly. After reflecting on the charming tale of the Oak King and Holly King, I take a look in my article at how holly is used in landscaping.
...Christmas Flowers as a December Diversion
Some people get caught up in the euphoria of Christmas shopping. In a way, I envy them: it could be a great way to take one's mind off the fact that one's garden is dead. It will never work for me, though. I'm just not a huge fan of trying to navigate through the hustle and bustle of overpopulated store aisles. I'm dutiful about doing my Christmas shopping, but to say its effect on me is "euphoric" would be stretching matters.
...The Plants of Our Christmas Traditions
If you inhabit one of the bone-chilling regions of the globe, you may be one of the legions of people who derive some degree of comfort from adorning their home in winter with evergreens, as folks have done for centuries. Evergreens are a symbol of immortality and instill hope in us that spring is not just a distant dream. In the West, Christmas traditions have sprung up around these evergreen plants. Their contribution to our emotional well-being has certainly earned them a place in Christmas traditions.
Holiday Ideas From Around About.com
As a continuation of my prior post, today I'm presenting further holiday ideas from around the About.com network. The framework is based loosely on the theme of "The Twelve Days of Christmas," even though, technically, that period begins with Christmas, rather than ending with it. I guess the fast pace of modern life (to say nothing of commercialism) has conditioned us to be impatient. I know I have my own Christmas shopping out of the way (do you?).
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