Plants

Growing cherry trees in USDA Zone 8 can be surprisingly rewarding, but variety selection matters. Zone 8 has relatively mild winters, and that can be a challenge for traditional cherry cultivars that need substantial winter chilling before they flower and fruit. In warmer parts of the zone, low-chill cherry trees are generally the safest choice, … Read more

Oak trees rank among the most recognized and ecologically important trees on the planet, with roughly 500 species distributed across the Northern Hemisphere and even a handful reaching into tropical highlands. A single mature oak can support more than 500 species of caterpillars alone, making it one of the greatest wildlife hosts of any tree … Read more

Tulips are often treated as short-term spring flowers, but some can do much more than produce a single season of color. Under suitable conditions, certain tulips can naturalize, meaning they remain in the ground, return in subsequent years, and may gradually produce offsets or increase into larger groups. This is an important distinction because not … Read more

Tulips are among the most recognizable spring bulbs, but there is an important catch: true tulips generally do not bloom continuously throughout the entire summer. Most tulips flower for only a few weeks, usually in spring. Even varieties described as late-flowering typically finish before the hottest part of summer. However, gardeners can create a much … Read more

Tulips are often planted for one spectacular spring display and then treated as if their work is finished. But not all tulips behave that way. Some varieties can return for several years, while certain botanical tulips can gradually multiply and establish themselves in the garden when they are planted in suitable conditions. This distinction matters … Read more

Hollyhocks are among the most recognizable flowers in traditional cottage gardens. Their tall stems, large saucer-shaped flowers, and wide range of colors make them especially noticeable when planted along fences, walls, pathways, and the back of flower borders. Although they are often associated with old-fashioned gardens, hollyhocks remain popular today because they combine striking vertical … Read more

Hollyhocks are one of the easiest ways to add height, color, and an old-fashioned charm to a flower garden. Their tall flower spikes can rise well above many other garden plants, carrying rows of large, colorful blooms from summer into early autumn. They are especially attractive when planted along fences, walls, cottage-garden borders, or at … Read more

Chrysanthemums, commonly called mums, are among the most rewarding flowers to grow in the garden. They produce abundant blooms in shades of yellow, white, pink, red, orange, purple, and bronze, and their flowers can last for weeks when plants receive the right growing conditions. Although chrysanthemums are often associated with fall gardens, they can provide … Read more

The Kwanzan Cherry Tree (Prunus serrulata ‘Kanzan’), also known as Kanzan or Sekiyama, is a dazzling deciduous tree celebrated for its profuse, double pink blossoms that create a stunning spring spectacle, making it a centerpiece of cherry blossom festivals and ornamental landscapes worldwide. A cultivar of the Japanese Flowering Cherry, this tree combines vibrant beauty … Read more

Apples are a widely popular fruit loved by many people all over the world. More than 100 varieties of apple are grown commercially in the United States and more than 7,500 varieties are grown worldwide. [Source: University of Illinois Extension]. Just like many fruits, apples can be in shades of Green, Red, Orange, Yellow or Golden … Read more