HOME & GARDEN
Black Walnut: Massive and Messy
The good, the bad and the nutty June 2024 by Steve Carroll, Contributing Columnist A landowner with a mature, open-grown black walnut is fortunate indeed, able to appreciate this tree’s massive presence; thick,...
Flowering Dogwood
Virginia’s state flower and tree April 2024 by Steve Carroll, Contributing Columnist Flowering dogwood is a small tree that makes a dramatic and much-admired statement in early spring. The Virginia Native Plant Society named it their 2018 Flower of the Year, and in...
In My Backyard?
Busting myths about geothermal heat pumps April 2024 by Will Lange, Contributing Columnist MYTH #1: YOU NEED A BUNCH OF LAND As someone once put it, “If you have a lawn mower, then you can put in a geo unit.” With numerous options for the geothermal underground loop...
Grow for Year-Round Color
Mention to friends that you’ve planted an evergreen tree in your yard, and most will assume you’ve added a pine, arborvitae, or a related conifer. But there are also evergreen flowering trees, and in our region, the native American holly is one of the most popular.
Spirit of the Season
The season of gratitude is upon us. I want to thank you readers for stopping by this column to get my musings on the garden for the last 21 years. In this, my last article, I think back fondly on how plants have helped cultivate friendships and well-being.
GMOs Explained
Many consumers are curious to learn more about the purpose and safety of GMOs.
SHADY AND SHEDDING
You could hardly find a better-named tree than shagbark hickory, though paper birch, striped maple and longleaf pine are in the running.
Nostalgic Nasturtiums
Nasturtiums are vibrant, cheerful flowers in hot red, orange and yellow, with distinctive round leaves with spoke-like veining.
Pretty, Portable Pollinator Gardens
Bees, birds, butterflies and other pollinators play an important role in our global ecosystem. By transporting pollen from one plant to another, they make growing the food we eat and the beautiful garden spaces we enjoy possible.