Variegated Liriope is a perennial groundcover that provides interest year round. The spike leaves are light green and white in color. We have Variegated Liriope in our Front Sidewalk Garden. Why cut back Liriope in early Spring? It forces fresh, new growth! For beginner gardeners, Liriope is an […]
Plants
162 posts
We have lots of “Pretty in Pink” in our garden! The top left photo is a pot of pink impatiens. Impatiens like shade, so if you have a shady spot in your garden, they are perfect! For more information, photos, and videos on impatiens, click here. […]
We love shades of “peach” in our garden! The top left photo is multi-color Zinnias planted from seed. Zinnias are very easy to grow. We just sprinkled the seeds in amended soil, and lightly sprayed with water everyday for a couple of weeks. We waited until late […]
Believe it or not — Spring is just around the corner! It’s always darkest before the dawn, and we have experienced record cold temperatures, snow blizzards, and multiple snow/ice events. So our thoughts are turning to Spring. One of our most dependable perennials are Irises. Why Plant […]
It’s February and it’s very cold in the Mid-Atlantic area of the U.S. We are sooo looking forward to Spring! Our first blooms are daffodils and hyacinths. Since we have abundant wildlife in the nearby woods, we have to […]
Our Front Sidewalk Garden includes Red Potted Geraniums, Japanese Wildflowers, Euonymus Shrub, Tall Arborvitae Evergreens, and Irises. In our birdbath, we placed Hens and Chicks succulent plants. The Front Sidewalk Garden is very low maintenance … we prune the Euonymus a couple of times per year to keep it […]
When we turn the corner and walk down the hill, our Side Garden stands up and greets us everyday! I have always loved Side Gardens. When I was growing up, my parents had a Side Garden of Irises, Lilies, Roses, and Azaleas. Side Gardens are typically […]
Our huge Christmas Camellia is ready for the holidays! It’s sporting bright red and yellow blooms and is standing 10 feet tall. We purchased the Camellia at a plant nursery in Chincoteague, Virginia about 7 years ago. It was about 18 inches tall at that time. It’s very easy […]
Our huge Nellie Stevens Holly is ready for the holidays! It’s sporting bright red berries and is standing 18 feet tall and 10 feet wide. We planted the holly about 10 yrs ago and it has grown fast and furious ever since! Hollies are broadleaf evergreens. They maintain their […]
We are at the Massanutten Resort in Harrisonburg, Virginia. As we take a walk on a sunny but chilly afternoon, we notice a shrub with bright red berries! It looks similar to our Barberry shrubs, but it has no thorns and no leaves. If anyone knows the name […]
Trees are the bones of our landscape. They provide structure, color, and volume. They also provide habitat and food for hundreds of species such as birds, butterflies, and squirrels. Trees also provide monetary value. Ask your local […]
“In a recent study, men who touched plant leaves for two minutes felt calmer and had less cerebral blood flow to the brain areas associated with stress than men who touched metal or other materials.” [Source: Bottom Line Personal, Vol 35 Number 20, October 15, 2014] To read the actual […]
What is a Garden Oasis? When you step outside onto your deck or patio to enjoy the weather and scenery, wouldn’t it be nice to have beautiful plants and flowers greeting you? Plants help soften the lines of a deck or patio. Plants add colorful interest to a deck or […]
Our Sedum Autum Joy is so healthy that it gets top-heavy when it blooms! Should it be pruned before blooming in the Fall? if so, when is the best time to prune? Please comment below or reply to our twitter @itsgardningtime … Thanks! Our Sedum Autumn Joy is a large […]
As I was recording a video of our Burning Bush, I noticed pretty red berries! I don’t know why I never noticed them before, but it was a delight to see them. Every year, we have Mockingbirds nest in our Burning Bush. I’m sure they are enjoying the berries. […]
Our Tinkerbell Irises have stopped blooming, and the reason is because Irises don’t like to be crowded. Irises multiply quickly, and if they get too crowded, they stop blooming. The secret to get them blooming again is to dig them up and divide them, as we demonstrate in the videos […]
The cool temperatures of Autumn make it a perfect time to dig up and divide your Irises. Why dig up and divide Irises? if you have noticed that your Irises aren’t blooming as much as they used to, it’s probably because Irises don’t like to be crowded. They multiply quickly, […]
If you have noticed that your Irises are not blooming as much as they used to, it’s probably because they have multiplied and have become crowded. Irises multiply quickly, and once they get too crowded, they stop blooming. The solution is to dig them up and divide them, as […]
This is an update to our post about discovering butterfly eggs on our Salmon Geraniums. To find out what happened to the butterfly eggs, see the video at the bottom of this post … >>>>>>>>>>>>> I just watered our Salmon Geraniums and noticed little black eggs on a few leaves. […]
When the temperatures cool down, it’s a welcome respite from the long, hot Summer! Autumn is our favorite season! The trees and shrubs begin to change colors. Nature gives us a free show of colors, textures and berries! Autumn ushers in a kaleidoscope of colors, […]
It’s early Fall in the Mid-Atlantic area of the U.S. and our Red Maple Tree is starting to turn red! Red Maple Tree is a stunning, majestic tree. Here are 4 ways Red Maple Trees improve your landscape and home: One way Red Maple Trees improve your […]
Golden Barberry Shrub is a very low maintenance shrub that has many uses in your landscape. Here are 4 ways Golden Barberry shrub can improve your landscape: If you would like to create a natural fence along your property line, Golden Barberry shrub is a good choice. It provides […]
It’s Fall in the Mid-Atlantic area of the U.S. and our Burning Bush leaves are transitioning to red! Burning Bush is very easy to maintain. Just prune once per year to maintain shape, and in return, Burning Bush will give you brilliant red leaves in the Fall. This is our […]
Pyracantha Teton is a thorny shrub that grows upright and dense. Here are 5 reasons to grow Pyracantha Teton in your garden: (1) Pyracantha Teton adds bright orange color to your Autumn garden. (2) If you would like to create a natural border, Pyracantha Teton has is a perfect […]
The Early Fall Landscape It’s early Fall in the Mid-Atlantic area of the U.S. and we have a landscape that is changing colors right before our eyes! From majestic trees like oak and maple, to barberry shrubs, and perennials such as Chrysanthemums, a kaleidoscope of colors has enveloped our garden! […]
What Are Mums? Chrysanthemums, or “mums” as they are commonly called, are colorful perennials that bloom in the Fall. Their leaves have scalloped, wavy edges. Fortunately, mums have a slight scent that keeps deer and rabbits away. When to Plant Mums? Mums can be planted anytime from early Spring to […]
What are the 5 Secrets to Beautiful Fall Blooms? Secret #1 – By mid-summer, you will notice your mums starting to form flower buds. That’s when you know it’s time to prune. If you cut the mums back by the […]
Red Salvia has beautiful red spiked flowers that attract hummingbirds to your garden! Even in the early Fall, you will see a few hummingbirds stop at your Red Salvia as they make their migration to warmer climates. Red Salvia like morning sun. Red Salvia will continue to bloom until the […]
It’s Fall in the Mid-Atlantic area of the U.S. We have been eagerly awaiting the beautiful chrysanthemum blooms. During mid-Summer, we posted a video on pruning this mum to force fall blooms, and now we are about to get our wish. Take a peek below … The following […]
We love sedum plants because they are very easy to maintain; provide beautiful fall blooms, and interesting leaf textures and colors. Stonecrop Sedum has cobalt blue leaves with magenta blooms. The leaves feel good to the touch. If you lightly touch the leaves, they slightly tickle your hand! This is […]
Why Build a Deck/Patio Garden? Plants help soften the lines of a deck or patio. Plants add colorful interest to a deck or patio. Plants help beautify a deck or patio. Plants add to your deck or patio experience by drawing your attention to colorful arrangements. Relaxing on your deck […]
We live in the Mid-Atlantic area of the U.S.A. It rarely goes below 20 degrees in the winter. We have Petunias in containers that self-seed and return year after year! Here a 7 tips to get free Petunias every year: After the first hard frost, when the temperature goes […]
We live in the Mid-Atlantic area of the U.S.A. It rarely goes below 20 degrees in the winter. We have Red Salvia in containers that self-seed and return year after year! Here a 6 tips to get free Red Salvia every year: Tip #1 — After the first hard frost, […]
Sedum Autumn Joy Sedum Autumn Joy is a large sedum, a succulent plant that blooms pretty pink flowers in the fall. It is very easy to maintain, just remove dead foliage in early spring. When the Sedum is young and just planted, fertilize lightly with organic fertilizer, such […]
ANSWER? Black-Eyed Susans! Black Eyed Susans are very easy to grow. They like full sun, 6 or more hours per day. They don’t need to be pruned or fertilized. In the Spring, just remove dead foliage/leaves. Due to their bright yellow leaves and dark brown seedheads, they are […]
We have been waiting all summer for our Tropical Red Canna to bloom and it finally has! A beautiful red bloom tops the plant. Tropical plants like sun, water and humidity, so you wouldn’t think of them as perennials in the Mid-Atlantic area, but they can be … […]
Stonecrop Sedum! We love sedum plants because they are very easy to maintain; provide beautiful fall blooms, and interesting leaf textures and colors. Stonecrop Sedum has cobalt blue leaves with magenta blooms. The leaves feel good to the touch. If you lightly touch the leaves, they slightly tickle your […]
Why does your landscape need evergreens? Here are 6 reasons: Evergreens provide structure to your landscape. In the winter, when there are no leaves on deciduous plants, evergreens maintain their foliage and color. They are the “bones” in your landscape. The provide color, texture, and interest year-round. Typically, evergreens grow […]
Red Salvia has beautiful red spiked flowers that attract hummingbirds to your garden! They like morning sun. They don’t like the hot afternoon sun. Red Salvia will continue to bloom until the first hard frost, temperature below 32 degrees overnight. […]
Barberry Shrub is a very low maintenance shrub that has many uses in your landscape. Here are 4 ways Barberry shrub can improve your landscape: If you would like to create a natural fence along your property line, Barberry shrub […]
In early Spring, when we visit the plant nurseries, we usually have a color scheme in mind. This year, the color scheme was pink and salmon. We purchased various shades of pink begonias and salmon geraniums. Begonias are very easy to […]
Our Sedum Matrona is in full bloom! It’s very easy to maintain …fertilize once per year with organic fertilizer in fall or spring. It has beautiful pink blooms, and deep green and burgundy succulent leaves. We love Sedum because they are easy to maintain and provide fantastic Fall color! #itsgardeningtime […]
We have been on mum watch during the past few weeks, waiting for our mums to bloom! We planted baby mums in the spring so we expect a pleasant surprise when the mums bloom and reveal their color! […]
![Cora Cascade Peach Blush Vinca [Source: www.parkswholesaleplants.com]](https://itsgardeningtime.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Vinca-Cora-Cascade-Peach-Blush.jpg)
We visited historic Williamsburg, Virginia and discovered a large container of Vinca and Arborvitae (evergreen). Vinca are drought-tolerant plants with glossy leaves and dainty flowers. They are a member of the impatiens family of plants. The miniature evergreen in the container is of a common variety that stays […]
Sedum Matrona plant in full bloom! Very easy to maintain; fertilize once per year with organic fertilizer such as Espoma PT4 4-Pound Plant-Tone Organic 5-3-3 Plant Food, in fall or spring. Beautiful pink blooms. Deep green and burgundy succulent leaves. We love Sedum because they are easy to maintain and […]
Monarch butterflies are attracted to gardens with a milkweed bush. The milkweed bush is a host plant for Monarch butterflies to lay their eggs. The beautiful orange blooms will add bright orange color to your garden! For beginner gardeners, milkweed multiplies rapidly! To keep it in a confined area, […]
We have waited all summer long for our Cannas to bloom, and finally, in early fall, they are blooming! Tropical Canna plants remind us of the islands, especially Bermuda, which has beautiful flora. Cannas like warm weather and humidity. Believe it or not, they can take cold weather and […]
We have waited all summer long for our Cannas to bloom, and finally, in early fall, they are blooming! Tropical Canna plants remind us of the islands, especially Bermuda, which has beautiful flora. Cannas like warm weather and humidity. Believe it or not, they can take cold […]
Try looking at this big round ball of Pink Begonias and not smiling! Pink Begonias are a big round ball of joy! We planted 2 begonias in 1 pot, which is why the blooms are so full. Three reasons to grow […]
![Eastern_Tiger_Swallowtail_butterfly [Photo Courtesy: wikipedia.org]](https://itsgardeningtime.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/E_TigerSwallowtailbutterfly.jpg)
On a sunny fall morning, we noticed a Yellow Tiger Swallowtail feeding on our Butterfly bush. I carefully walked toward him so I could record him. He flew toward the camera which was delightful! Butterfly bush will bring beautiful butterflies to your garden! To learn how to care for […]
We have 2 salmon geraniums and they prefer part sun. Our red geraniums can take full sun, but the salmon geraniums do better with part sun. We placed them in front of a large evergreen to screen them from the full sun. For beginner gardeners, geraniums are a good choice. […]
![Black Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly [Photo Courtesy: cambridgeincolour.com]](https://itsgardeningtime.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/blck_swallow.jpg)
Whenever I am in the mood to see some of God’s most beautiful creatures, I step outside and slowly walk over to our Butterfly (or Buddleia) Bush. Butterflies absolutely love Butter Bush! In our backyard, a ten foot tall […]
Sedum in a small pot is beginning to bloom in the Fall. Combination of azaleas in the background and barberry bush in the foreground, with Sedum Matrona blooming, makes a nice variety of plant colors and textures. Sedum flowers attract bees and butterflies. We have had some deer damage on […]
Cistena is a large shrub that blooms light pink flowers in early spring. It is a member of the cherry family. Since it is a flowering shrub, we fertilize twice per year with an organic fertilizer Espoma PT18 Plant Tone, […]
Sedum Autumn Joy is a large sedum, a succulent plant that blooms pretty pink flowers in the fall. It is very easy to maintain, just remove dead foliage in early spring. When the sedum is young and just planted, fertilize lightly with organic fertilizer, such as Espoma PT18 Plant […]
Lamb’s Ear is an interesting and unique ground cover. It has thick furry leaves, which is why it’s call Lamb’s Ear. Children love to touch Lamb’s ear because it is so unusual for leaves to feel furry! It is very easy to maintain. No pruning is necessary. We fertilize […]
Burgundy Barberry Shrub provides deep burgundy color all year long. During the Winter, it provides color and structure in your landscape. It blooms small yellow flowers in early summer, which attracts honey bees. It has sharp thorns which keep the deer away. Barberry is very easy to maintain. Prune […]
Euonymus shrub provides green and yellow color all year long. The leaves are glossy and showy. It requires very little maintenance; just prune with quality pruning shears such as Fiskars 25-33 Inch Power-Lever Extendable Hedge Shear (9169), to maintain shape. Fertilize with organic fertilizer Espoma PT18 Plant Tone, […]
Begonias are very easy to maintain. They like full to part sun. Just fertilize with Espoma FT20 Flower Tone Plant Food, 20-Pound every few weeks during the growing season. The leaves retain water so only water when the soil is dry. The blooms fall of naturally, so it […]
Blue Coreposis bush is a maintenance-free perennial! It blooms beautiful bright blue flowers in late summer through fall. It attracts butterflies and bees to your garden. It is very easy to maintain. Cut back hard in early spring with quality pruning shears such as Fiskars 25-33 Inch Power-Lever Extendable Hedge […]
Why Plant Irises? Irises bloom in the spring and they love full sun! Their blooms are unique, with a colorful bloom on top and another bloom hanging at the bottom, hence “bearded” iris. Irises are very easy to maintain. How to Plant Irises The most important aspect of planting […]