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Welcome to our library of articles, where you can search and browse over 2,000 articles written by our own team of garden writers. Interested in becoming a Dave's Garden writer? Submit an article to apply.
I always thought green beans were just that: ordinary green beans… no difference in any of them, except for the very thin and expensive French Haricots Vert that I dearly love. As Fate would have it, I was recently proved wrong, resulting in a delightful and tasteful experience. Now my first green bean “love” has an equal.
The title of this article should really be “Be careful for what you wish for because it just may come true.” When I hear the word passionflower vine I automatically recall a visit to a friend’s house. As he gave the tour of his garden he pointed up and said “And this is what is left of the passionflower vines once the caterpillars were finished with them.”
Ever look out your window and wonder how everything you have there got started? How did we get beds and rows, pots and planters? When did the homes have their own gardens? This will be a short dive into the world of gardens and its rich and very ancient history.
The sun comes up and we blindly make our way to that first cup of morning sustenance. With the first sip, our eyes open slowly and we decide we might be able to make it through another day. There is nothing like that first cup of coffee, unless it is your first cup of chicory!
One would think that the world's largest flower would be found on a plant of considerable size, if only to support the flowers! In reality, the world's largest flower has no roots, leaves, or stems; read on to find out how this is possible . . .
On Saturdays, the Writer's Group would like to say thanks by presenting a "You Supply The Caption" photo. A gardening related photo will be presented, and you the Readers will provide humorous captions. The wit available on Dave's is some of the best around, so please join in the fun! This feature is not a "for compensation" article - just our way of saying Thanks for reading. Hope you enjoy...now let's hear some funny stuff!
Autumn is in the air, this season's flowers are developing seedheads and that means that the fall seed swaps will be starting soon here at Dave's Garden. Here are some thoughts about how to have fun trading seeds.
Here I intend to make plant growth and reproduction at the cellular level--a very complex subject--much more understandable. As a trained scientist, I, too, have found many descriptions of these processes to be difficult to grasp. My hope is that you will have a good handle on these after this article...
Water, too much or not enough, has been in the news a lot recently. As gardeners, we are sensitive to water availability. Too much water, and our flowers and crops drown. Too little water, and our flowers and crops shrivel and dry up. Water ‘ownership’ leads to fighting between neighbors and even neighboring states. One way to have free water (if your state permits) is a catchment system like this simple rain barrel.
Most people really get into the water garden thing one step at a time. The first step into this wonderful world is getting into plants for shallow water and bog plants. This is a stunning and easy way to get your feet wet and add a new dimension to the garden.
We have all seen them; winding lanes leading to huge estates and small homes alike. Entrances to homes that are planted with trees, shrubs and flowers tend to leave lasting memories.
On Saturdays, the Writer's Group would like to say thanks by presenting a "You Supply The Caption" photo. A gardening related photo will be presented, and you the Readers will provide humorous captions. The wit available on Dave's is some of the best around, so please join in the fun! This feature is not a "for compensation" article - just our way of saying Thanks for reading. Hope you enjoy...now let's hear some funny stuff!
I loved to make mud pies, and even more I loved to make things with clay. There was plenty of both where I grew up, and sometimes the mud and clay were intermingled. When I accidentally added seeds to the mix, the rain of spring and the sunshine of summer often brought a nice surprise. This is a gardening project for little people, and maybe for big folks, too.
The process of photosynthesis in plants is of such import that were we to understand it completely and be able to duplicate it industrially, we could solve many of today's economic woes. For our purposes here, though, understanding the basics of the process is our objective . . .
I first discovered this weed growing rampantly in the cracks of my sidewalk years ago and made every effort to eradicate it. Later I learned it is called purslane, in the same family as moss rose. This year I have learned two more things about it. The first is that it is edible; the second is that it benefits my garden as a weed.
We have all seen that plant… that tree that everyone hates but in my mind I just have to have one… I have to plant it over there – maybe out of the way… but for some reason I just need that tree. I might hide it, might never ever talk about it, but why did I plant that tree there in the first place?
Ol' Larrnce wasn't anybody's fool. He grabbed that snake by the tail and twirled it a time or two over his head and slung it as far as he could sling it. And it just kept coming back.
This little plant is quite familiar to me as I have had them spring up as volunteers from time to time in pots containing other plants. I have a nice group of them growing among the tightly packed roots at the base of a large Royal Palm. This is no problem for these plants, as they have no roots. No leaves, either! Whoa. . .read on to learn more. . .
The Pike's Peak Region of Colorado is a difficult place to garden. With erratic weather patterns coming over the Front Range, one cannot predict much more than the skies being unpredictable. A drought-filled summer and a cold, wet winter one year could be followed by a cool, rainy summer and a desperately dry winter. In a climate like this, experimentation in the garden is a must. What better way to see what can thrive in this changing climate than visiting a demonstration garden? The Horticultural Art Society of Colorado Springs maintains a sumptuous demonstration garden for the public to enjoy and evaluate plants. Here is a brief tour and history of the beautiful grounds.
Palm trees have a quite special look and immediately make people think of the tropics even if some species grow in temperate areas. The Mascareignes archipelago has its share, including a few endemic species.
Cycas include some of the most commonly grown potted as well as landscape cycads in cultivation... but there are many many more! This article serves as an introduction to some of these amazing plants grown all around the world.
Often overlooked, these Mexican succulent rosette plants are among the best landscape and potted plants in the family Crassulaceae. And their hybrids with Echeveria are even better.
The study of how plants function is known as Plant Physiology. In this and following articles I'll introduce you to the essential plant functions and how they relate to everyday gardening.
The Horseradish Root has been well known as a condiment for fish and beef since the Middle Ages and more recently in a cocktail sauce or a Bloody Mary. The medicinal uses are less familiar although the Egyptians knew about horseradish as far back as 1500 B.C, and medicinal uses were recorded by the Greek scholar and herbalist Pliny the Elder, AD 23-AD 79.
Transplanting a Zone 6 New England daughter into a zone 8 southwestern college. Will she survive the transplant shock? Will I? And what IS that cactus, anyway?
You have the space but is getting that first house plant a hard thing for you to do? Or do you have a few house plants and are looking for a few more to add to your collection? Here is a short list of a few very simple and very easy house plants for you to look at and consider adding to your indoor “garden”.
Bouncing Bet must have been named after my great Aunt Bett. There was no doubt about it. One look at those tiny white flowers bouncing around in the sun all summer long and I could just see her five steps ahead of me bouncing up the mountainside. It never mattered how old she was, she always had white hair, and when she took that bonnet off, her white curls bounced in the sunshine.
So simple: one big flower on a stem. So complex: each flower holds hundreds of seeds and each seed holds countless genes. Within the simple North American sunflower lay the genetic material that allowed humans to develop the species into a worldwide crop. Here's a brief history of Helianthus annuus, from its roots as a wildflower to its current status as an important agricultural species.
Gardeners, have you ever returned from vacation to find your plants in a state of disaster? After a recent two week trip to Belize, I found a lot of work waiting for me in the garden...but it wasn't as bad as I initially thought, thanks to careful examination and diagnosis.
Grape hyacinths are a staple in the spring garden. Few other lesser spring bulbs have flowers in such an intense blue (possibly excepting Scilla). They combine beautifully with daffodils and tulips. Most are easy to grow, multiple quickly and have lovely fragrances. There are a surprising number of lesser known grape hyacinths to choose from, some quite bizarre. This article will introduce you to some of the divesrity that exists among grape hyacinths.
During cucumber season, my mandoline becomes my favorite kitchen gadget. With it, cucumbers practically slice themselves – thinly and evenly, piling up in delectable heaps to be used in every way imaginable. Whether you use a mandoline or a trusty knife, you’ll love freshly sliced cucumbers in everything from hors d’oeuvres to refrigerator pickles!
On Saturdays, the Writer's Group would like to say thanks by presenting a "You Supply The Caption" photo. A gardening related photo will be presented, and you the Readers will provide humorous captions. The wit available on Dave's is some of the best around, so please join in the fun! This feature is not a "for compensation" article - just our way of saying Thanks for reading. Hope you enjoy...now let's hear some funny stuff!
A stroll through your garden will reveal flowers, fruits, stems, branches and leaves, but you'll have to do some digging to see the rest of your plant. Here I'll introduce you to the underground plant parts, including roots and a variety of underground storage organs that are used by plants and by us as food sources . . .
What is the superhero of the fruit tree world? Why the humble Plum, able to thrive in places other fruits have long forgotten, live in famine or in deluge, and be able to produce at a very young age. This is one fruit tree you need in your garden. They are stunning in full bloom or fruit.
This is one of the funniest Aunt Bett stories I will ever tell you. If you have ever laughed out loud at a most inappropriate time, you will surely understand the quandary I found myself in. A church service is a serious event, but in this one instance.....well, I might as well just take you with me on this little trip back to my twelfth year.
Do you appreciate the rich patina of an antique? Is your house filled with relics form days gone by? Perhaps Granny's priceless heirlooms reside happily in your parlor. Antiques add character to the decor of a home. Did you know there are a variety of antique flowers? These antique flowers can be found in many gardens and in countless settings. Why not travel back in time by creating a garden abundant with antique flowers?
