As winter settles in, the frigid temperatures and bleak, lifeless landscapes give some gardeners chills at the very thought of toiling outside. This winter, bring the warmth and vitality of summer indoors with you. Make the most of your yard’s dormant period by creating exclusively new gardens, or terrariums, inside your home. Potted houseplants certainly add comfort and interest to the home, but they are no match for lush indoor gardens. A terrarium ...

With the chilly temperatures finally settling in and the holiday season upon us, you might not have the time that you would like to work in your yard. Bring your love for the outdoors and garden inside this winter by decorating your home with indoor foliage plants. Houseplants can instantly add color, life, and variety to your home with little to no effort. Growing houseplants in fact is an easy feat, and anyone can be successful with them when providing ...

One of the hottest growing trends in the gardening world is setting root all around us. Evergreen shrubs like ligustrums, ‘Formosa’ azaleas and red tip photinias have long been employed to block unsightly vistas, meddlesome neighbors, and highway clamor. As the number of developing neighborhoods continues to climb, so does our need for privacy. Build your own natural screen to hide unwanted sights and sounds without impeding the rest of your garden’s ...

If today’s high-speed lifestyle is starting to wear on your body and spirit, give yourself the natural boost you need this spring by growing medicinal herbs. Plants like chamomile and lavender are grown and harvested for their soothing qualities, since both herbs gently calm the senses, while putting your troubled mind at ease. Similarly, herbs like Echinacea and peppermint have long been praised for their remarkable abilities to ward off upper ...

Plunge into an emerald abyss of ferns this summer and cool off with their scintillating swirls of fronds and exotic mixes of hues. With their lush tropical foliage, ferns have a remarkable knack for instantly softening shade gardens, and offer a cool sense of vitality where few other plants will thrive. Though tender in appearance, these stalwart summer beauties pack punch with their luxuriant leaves as they effortlessly work to enliven courtyards, ...

With the cost of fuel on the climb and no cap in sight, it’s safe to say that gardeners and homeowners alike are taking nearly every measure they can to skimp and save for necessities. And so they should. No better time has offered itself than now for integrating edible gardening in our home landscapes. Save on a few annuals you might replant each year by including perennial herbs, seasonal vegetables, or fruiting shrubs instead. While I’m not ...

This Valentine’s Day, surprise the one you love with gifts for the garden. Candlelit dinners and decadent chocolate hearts make for a nice romantic evening, but for a more lasting expression of your affection, try showering your better half with gifts that will keep on giving. Garden enthusiasts, whether novice or expert, are always in want of something for their backyards or patios. Delve into some of these great gift ideas, and you are sure to ...

With spring’s official kickoff just weeks away, lawns across Louisiana are answering their annual wake-up calls, as they respond by shooting forth sprigs of verdant emerald green. Well, that may be partly true. Our home lawns are certainly beginning to arise from their deep winter slumbers, but for those of us who imprudently chose not to seed rye grass in October or to apply late fall herbicides, the beautiful patches of green are in fact cool ...

Bring a taste of Italy to your garden by growing your own Mediterranean herbs. Summer spices like sweet basil, bay laurel, rosemary, and oregano are sure to heat up your landscape and kitchen. Whether you want to grow herbs in containers or incorporate them in the flowerbed, you can add fresh flavor to every meal with any of these Italian favorites. Sweet basil, or Ocimum basilicum, is one of the most widely used herbs in the world. Although usually ...

If you’re in search of something fresh this summer, sink your teeth into some of Louisiana’s sweetest blueberries. Tucked away in the quaint city of Wilson, Louisiana (just north of St. Francisville) lies Blueberry Ridge Orchard, home of the most delectable blueberries in the state. Blueberry Ridge, owned and operated by Chris Jones, is a pick-your-own berry farm that rests on ten acres of verdant land. Walk through this farm, and you’ll easily ...