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The Surprising Benefits of Growing Yarrow in Your Garden
Yarrow is a plant that often goes unnoticed in many gardens, yet it offers a range of benefits that make it a valuable addition to any outdoor space. Known for its delicate clusters of flowers and feathery leaves, yarrow is more than just a pretty plant. It supports garden health, attracts beneficial insects, and even has uses beyond the garden bed. If you’re looking for a hardy, low-maintenance plant that brings multiple advantages, yarrow deserves a spot in your garden. Clu

Linda Hlozansky
5 days ago3 min read


Fairy Gardens
Fairy gardens or miniature gardens are like a doll house for gardeners. Play with it as often as you want. Just like in the really big landscape, plants may decline, and you take them out to put in new plants. Ideas for Containers: Birdbaths Clay or plastic pots or plastic bowls Wagons Baskets Wheelbarrows Raised beds Old tree stumps China bowl with small stones in the bottom Old child's pool with holes drilled in the bottom Or you can put a large scale fairy garden in the

Linda Hlozansky
Jan 91 min read


Purple Hyacinth Bean Vine
Purple hyacinth bean is often grown as a flowering plant , although most of the plant is edible. With shades of purple in the leaves, stems, flowers and showy seed pods, it is undeniably eye-catching. Purple hyacinth bean is a very vigorous grower and the vines are a popular choice for a quick cover, although they can frustrate you by refusing to flower until late in the season. The bright green, pointed leaves grow in leaflets of three leaves. The stems and undersides of th

Linda Hlozansky
Dec 31, 20254 min read


Plant for the pollinators
Many plants need the help of pollinators to produce their fruit. Examples: Squash, Melons, Apples The seeds contained in the fruit ensures the plants future generations. Who are the pollinators? Butterflies, Bats, Hummingbirds and Bees The pollinators are faced with many threats: Loss of Habitat Pollution Climate change How Can You Help? Use native plants Provide a source of water in your yard or garden Avoid pesticides Choose plants that the pollinators like Full sun p

Linda Hlozansky
Dec 8, 20251 min read


Trees Native to Georgia
Name Growth Speed Size at full growth Light 1. Red bud Medium 25-30 ft Sun or Shade Bloom early spring 2. Halesia Tetraptera Medium 20-30 ft. Sun or Semi Shade Silverbell 3.Ilex Opaca Medium 20-30 ft. Sun or Shade American Holly

Linda Hlozansky
Dec 3, 20251 min read


Best Perennials for Full Sun and Drought Tolerance in Coastal Georgia
Gardening in coastal Georgia presents unique challenges. The combination of intense sun, sandy soil, salty air, and occasional drought can make it tough for many plants to thrive. Choosing the right perennials that can handle full sun and tolerate dry spells is key to creating a beautiful, low-maintenance garden that flourishes year after year. This guide highlights some of the best perennials suited for these conditions. Whether you want vibrant flowers, attractive foliage,

Linda Hlozansky
Nov 26, 20254 min read


Essential Tips for Successful Plant Propagation at Home
Plant propagation offers a rewarding way to multiply your favorite plants without buying new ones. Whether you want to expand your garden or share plants with friends, knowing how to propagate correctly can save money and bring satisfaction. This guide shares practical tips to help you succeed in plant propagation at home. Rooted plant cutting in soil, ready for transplanting Choose the Right Plant for Propagation Not all plants propagate easily. Some species respond well to

Linda Hlozansky
Nov 21, 20253 min read


Mexican Heather: An Annual or Perennial Depending on the Weather
Mexican Heather is the perfect size for the front border of an annual or perennial bed. It also makes an excellent addition to vegetable gardens because it draws pollinators like crazy. This plant is one of those annual/perennial types of plants that depend on what type of weather we have through winter. Too much cold and you may have to replace it. If the winter is mild this perennial will pop back up. Its mature size of 12″-18″ tall x wide is perfect in the small scale

Linda Hlozansky
Nov 14, 20252 min read


Backstory for my book Welcome to the Garden, Bok Choy
I have been a gardener for a long time. My parents and grandparents were gardeners, but until last Fall, I had never grown Bok Choy. At the Glynn County Cooperative Extension Service, I was given seed packets to plant in our 4-H demonstration garden. They were planted, and boy, did they grow! With a bit of research, I learned that they are Chinese Cabbage. ( How different they look, I thought) A young man in 4-H who liked to cook, stir-fried it for the group of young people (

Linda Hlozansky
Nov 6, 20251 min read


Compost
Finished compost can be used as mulch or soil amendment for the garden. There are two ways to compost: open or closed. Open composting usually has three piles: 1.new clippings 2. aging clippings 3. finished compost Closed composting is done in some sort of barrel usually raised and ready to turn on a stand. Guidelines: What do I put into the composter? 1. Grass clippings unless they have chemicals on them 2. Scraps of uncooked fruits and vegetable materials like pe

Linda Hlozansky
Nov 5, 20252 min read


Plant List For The Shade
SHADE GARDEN PLANTS *Anise Azalea Camellia Edgeworthia Mop head Hydrangea *Oak leaf Hydrangea *Piedmont Azalea Rhododendron *Sweetshrub *Virginia Sweetspire Coral Bells (Heuchera ‘Raspberry Ice’) *Dwarf Crested Iris *Foamflower *Hardy Begonia Lenten Rose Toad Lily *Trillium *Virginia Bluebells *Wild Geranium Autumn Fern *Christmas Fern

Linda Hlozansky
Oct 28, 20251 min read


A List of My Favorite Children's Garden Themed Books
Allison's Zinnia ( an alphabet book) by Anita Lobel Apples and Pumpkins (a trip to the farm) by Anne Rockwell From Seed to Plant by Gail Gibbons Jack's Garden (vocabulary building) by Henry Cole The Gardener (my all time favorite) by Sarah Stewart Linnea's Windowsill Garden (great for apartment projects) by Christina Bjork Miss Rumphius (making things better than we found them) by Barbara Cooney Growing Vegetable Soup by Lois Ehlert Tops and Bottoms ( fabulous book) b

Linda Hlozansky
Oct 21, 20251 min read


Container Gardening
Containers offer quick satisfaction with the minimum of effort. Keep a few things in mind while planning and planting containers. Plants in pots are like jewelry, so don't overdo it! Use plants with similar light needs. Consider the mature size of the plants you choose. Some plants will grow too big for the container. Thriller, Filler, and Spiller is the guide for a beautiful pot. A tall plant, plants to fill in, and some vines to trail out of the pot. Plant with a lush full

Linda Hlozansky
Oct 15, 20251 min read


Garden Smarter Over 50
Why continue to garden? Answers: It is good exercise, and it relieves stress. To be stress free, your garden must be low maintenance and safe . Ideas to make your garden low maintenance and safe. Downsize your garden Cut down or eliminate turf Increase hardscape and paths Eliminate trip hazards Use raised beds Go native! Use large beds of ground cover, mulch, or pine straw Install shrubs for color Use perennials instead of annuals Use Preca

Linda Hlozansky
Oct 15, 20251 min read


Camellias
There are several types of Camellias: Camellia Japonica, Camellia Reticulata, Camellia Sasanqua, and Camellia Sinensis. Japonica can...

Linda Hlozansky
Oct 10, 20251 min read


Texas Star Hibiscus
The Texas Star hibiscus is a moisture-loving variety of hibiscus that produces large, striking, star-shaped flowers in both white and...

Linda Hlozansky
Oct 3, 20251 min read


Garlic
Step 1: Start with prepared soil. Garlic needs rich, loose soil with a pH of about 6.5. Make sure you add some compost after removing the summer plants; don’t just pull up spent plants and put the garlic in the ground. If soil test results indicate adding fertilizer, do so. Garlic is a medium-heavy feeder. Nitrogen can be incorporated in the soil before planting, either with traditional fertilizers or bone meal. Side dress in the spring when shoots are 4 to 6 inches

Linda Hlozansky
Oct 3, 20252 min read


Starting With Seeds
Starting with Seeds First Question is does the plant prefer to germinate outside? The envelope will give this guidance. Examples:...

Linda Hlozansky
Oct 2, 20251 min read


Plants That Deer Don't Like To Eat
Snapdragon Autumn Fern Cinnamon Fern Daffodil (Jonquil) Euphorbia- Spurge Grape Hyacinth (Muscari) Iris Lambs Ear Lavender Mint Rosemary...

Linda Hlozansky
Sep 30, 20251 min read


Perennials Of The Coastal South
I really love plant lists. Maybe you do too. I take my list and open a seed catalog (now a website) to see the plant, bloom, and height...

Linda Hlozansky
Sep 30, 20251 min read
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