From the Hanging Gardens of Babylon in 600 BC to Boston ferns suspended in baskets more recently, plants have been given an elevated status by gardeners for years. Moss balls, taking inspiration from the Japanese aesthetic of minimalism, offer a different, distinctive take on hanging plants. Also called Japanese string art, or kokedama, the project comprises a plant encased … [Read more...] about How to make kokedama
bulbs
4 steps to overwinter tender plants
Dahlias, begonias and other summer-flowering bulb-like plants are as common in our gardens as tulips, daffodils and crocuses are in the spring. But unlike their hardy cousins, these tender plants that grow from corms, rhizomes and tubers hail from warmer parts of the globe — Mexico, South and Central America, Asia and South Africa — and can’t withstand our deep-freeze … [Read more...] about 4 steps to overwinter tender plants
25 recommendations for favourite bulbs
It’s a leap of faith. You bury a small, non-descript fibrous mass, not always knowing which end is up. Some bulbs you plant in fall; others you plant in spring and dig up in fall, knowing that winter will turn them to mush. You may well mark where they’re buried, then forget about them. But one day you see signs of growth, and you’re pleased with yourself because you made the … [Read more...] about 25 recommendations for favourite bulbs
Fall-blooming colchicums
In the seasonal rush to plant spring-flowering bulbs, fall bloomers are often overlooked. To add to their undeserved obscurity, one of the loveliest — colchicum — suffers from an identity crisis. Often referred to as autumn crocus (which belongs to another genus altogether), Colchicum is a botanical name that's easily mangled, causing confusion. And, of its many common names – … [Read more...] about Fall-blooming colchicums
When do I split crocus clumps?
Question from Margaret in Kingston, Ontario: I have some crocus clumps that need to be split and divided. Do I do that now or wait until fall planting time? Beckie’s reply: Experts recommend moving crocus (and other spring-blooming bulbs) just after the foliage dies back. Carefully lift the bulbs to avoid puncturing them, and replant them at the same depth they were growing … [Read more...] about When do I split crocus clumps?
