Here on Cape Cod, our last average frost date is in early May. It is prime indoor seed sowing time to have warmth-loving seedlings ready to transplant to the garden for Memorial Day weekend when the soil, air and evenings are warm enough to not stress the plants. Starting your own seeds is a cost effective way to grow lots of flowers or veggies for your garden. I have always liked planting flowers that our growers don't offer in [...]

One of my favorite, and very underutilized, native shrubs is Itea virginica Virginia sweetspire. Blooming in late May through June with lightly fragrant 6-8" long sprays of white flowers that are a pollinator magnet. Its natural form is a mounding habit with graceful, arching branches and they will grow to 4-8 feet tall and wide. They spread slowly by underground suckers creating a dense mass of foliage but are by no means invasive. Itea thrives in partial shade and is [...]

Below is a before and after look at how I pruned my Limelight tree hydrangea this year. My Limelight is about 10 years old and the before picture was taken last August: beautiful, full and loaded with flowers. As much as I loved it, I did notice that the crown had become so thick that it was shading all the perennials planted underneath and that the center had too many crossing branches. Two weeks ago, I did a hard [...]

Gardens are never ever done. There is always a new plant, a new color combination, a fragrance to add or an art piece that would look so great in a border that you want to try. Embrace the tweaks and changes of a garden. The creative process is what makes gardening fun. Fall is the perfect time to make changes. Weather cools, growth slows, rains return, we hope. Taking a walk around the garden this time of year when [...]