Not all areas of your yard are conducive to a grassy lawn, and that’s where ground cover comes in. Defined as a grouping of usually low-growing plants that spread over an entire area, ground cover ...

A long-lived perennial from the milkweed family, butterflyweed is native to much of North America. This drought-resistant plant has a large taproot that stores water and nutrients, keeping the plant ...

Creeping phlox grow most successfully in well-drained soil, such as on a slope held back by rocks. They flower best in full sun. Courtesy photo The second week of April is green with new growth, so ...

From spring to fall, the hillside in front of Martha Markusen's century-old home in Duluth, Minn., evolves in changing masses of color. The soft whites and lavenders of spring flowers gradually give ...

We have spent a lot of time writing about fall vegetable gardening, but the action in the flower garden is just as exciting. Most gardeners in the region aim for year-round color while supporting ...

Just the other day, at the base of the trunk of my neighbor’s eucalyptus tree, I spotted a laurel sumac (Malosma laurina) seedling that had only recently sprouted. I have frequently seen volunteer ...

Herbs. Red valerian or Jupiter’s beard (Centranthus ruber) is a long-blooming perennial from the western Mediterranean that will spread throughout your garden with the greatest of ease. Its mildly ...

Poppies are among the easiest plants to grow from seed. You scatter their seeds over the surface of the earth and let them sprout. This assumes, of course, that there will be a modicum of rain after ...

When a grass lawn is not suitable or preferable for your garden, a groundcover is often a good choice. Groundcovers protect the soil, prevent erosion on a slope, and discourage weeds from taking hold ...