Helpful Gardening Articles

Don’t be just a perennial kind of person because you miss out on the wonderful aspect of annuals in your garden. Annuals are those that flower for only one year but they really are an essential part of your garden and you should plant some each year. The seeds are easy to sow, germinate quickly and bloom in just a short period adding spectacular colors to your landscape and gardens. When all danger of frost has passed plant them according to our instructions in ...

Everyone loves butterflies and as they flit around your garden visiting all the flower treasures, it is enchanting to watch. Butterflies are just about as beautiful to look at as the flowers that attract them. Let’s talk about creating a butterfly garden and how to do it! It is really very easy and most likely you will find flowers in your garden that already are attractive to butterflies so with a bit of extra effort you can create a truly beautiful and beneficial haven ...

PERENNIAL EDUCATION What Are Perennials? Technically, perennials are plants that live and bloom for more than 2 years. This is in contrast to annuals that live for one year and die. Some varieties of perennials are short-lived (lasting 3-4 years) but most have very long life spans such as peonies which have been known to live 100 years or more! Perennials come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. The best thing about perennials is that you only have to plant them once an...

Ask any experienced gardener and they will tell about different times when they have had issues with watering. You may never have had to worry about water shortages but sometimes even depending on spring rains at some point in certain areas we have to abide by new water rules or deal with what Mother Nature is handing out. While some gardeners continue uphill battles keeping their gardens watered others are now trying to work with climate changes. They are replacing high ...

Here in Vermont, the leaves on the trees are offering a beautiful show of color for the fall and birds are gathering, making plans to fly south for the winter. You might think this signals the end of the growing season, but, fall is one of the most beautiful times of year in the garden. Though often over looked, there are many perennials that exhibit a full color show in the fall, whether it is through their flowers or foliage. Of course, there are classic perennials suc...

If you do not have space for a vegetable or flower garden or if your present site is too small, consider raising fresh, nutritious, homegrown vegetables or try flower gardening in containers. A windowsill, patio, balcony, deck, roof top or doorstep can provide sufficient space for a productive container garden. Problems with soil borne diseases or poor soil can also be overcome by switching to container gardening. In fact, we at the Vermont Wildflower Farm g...

We all get wildlife visitors to our gardens. While we all have certain likes and dislikes regarding who might be visiting our garden, we should all try and enjoy god’s creations – just as long as they are not eating our hard work, right? We’ll talk about organic options in another blog to control those you don’t want in your garden but in the meantime, here are some facts about garden creatures we thought you might find enjoyable! Hummingbirds are able to fly up, down,...

After being left by the wayside for many years, cooking and garnishing with flowers is back in style once again. Many chefs and innovative home cooks are garnishing their entrees with flower blossoms for a touch of elegance. The secret to success when using edible flowers is to keep the dish simple and not add too many other flavors that will over power the delicate taste of the flower. Today this nearly lost art is enjoying a revival. Flower cookery can be traced back to...

Strawberries are so yummy and who wouldn’t want to grow them right in their backyard? They are one of the easiest to grow fruit crops and will bring a huge reward to the home gardener as they produce ample harvests that last year after year. Each strawberry plant produces one quart with the right conditions. So, how do you do it?? HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR PLANTS There are 3 types to choose from but we feel the best is the everbearing strawberry which produces 2-3 harvests o...

Add pizzazz to your cooking by using your own home grown Italian herbs. Growing your own Italian herbs involves a few seeds, a dash of knowhow, and a pinch of patience. Mix the three together and you will soon have a garden of herbs waiting to enrich the flavor of your next Italian meal. This article will address four common herbs found in nearly all Italian gardens, plus some useful tips to help determine the overall design. Basil There are a variety of bas...

Wildflowers are a beauty to behold, especially in spring when the meadows are awash with new color. Their fragrant and colorful variations are always a beauty to behold. Did you know that there are many other ways of enjoying the magic of wildflowers than just the outdoors? Here are ten practical ways to bring a rustic look to your space using wildflowers: Go ahead and try one of these today! 1. Plant a wildflower meadow If you have an open sunny or partia...

10 IDEAS FOR YOUR VERY OWN OASIS “Summer is Icumen In” and you stare out at your back yard in despair. It’s no place for a family who can’t wait to get outdoors to enjoy the brilliant weather. But wait a minute, with some work and a little endeavor you could turn your backyard into a summer oasis where you can spend quality time with family and friends. Here are some suggestions for realizing that dream. 1. Aim For Low Upkeep. Most people like to keep yard work ...

We're planting wildflowers! Considering meadows or wooded areas for planting with wildflowers? While a daunting task for estates areas without the correct training, New Hampshire's Belknap Landscape Company crews tools make it easy to accomplish terrific wildflower planting results. Belknap Landscape's equipment fleet includes a Brillion agricultural seeding machine, operated by skilled BLC employees. Not many NH Landscape Design-Build companies can say that, if ...