Ilona's Garden in Ohio

Posted by the gardener on Jul 17, 2011

Conifers Create Interest

Conifers provide shelter for wild life and interest in the garden year around.

Posted by the gardener on Jun 12, 2011

Landscape Interest: Hinoki Cypress

How to Use Dwarf Hinoki Cypress in Landscaping Next To Your Home, The Dwarf Hinoki Cypress Is Well-behaved With a maximum size of only 8 to 9 feet high and 4 feet wide, this dwarf evergreen is an excellent choice for planting near your home in a foundation planting; much better than the popular Arborvitae which will out grow its space and crowd windows and entry ways. The False Cypress is a slow...

Posted by the gardener on Jun 9, 2011

5 Unusual Ornamental Trees

Unusual in the sense of not commonly seen in landscapes, not in the difficulty of obtaining them, these trees will provide a decorative accent that will become a real feature in your garden. All five choices are hardy, smaller sized trees which grow in a wide variety of situations. Contorted Filbert, Corylus avellana ‘Contorta’ Chinese Dogwood, Cornus Kousa Chinensis Fringe Tree,...

Posted by the gardener on Mar 25, 2011

Peaceful Fountains, Meandering Pathways

...the combination of a path curving through a garden, a spot with a gently splashing fountain, and a garden seat are ideal in the creation of a garden

Posted by the gardener on Mar 11, 2011

Variegated Leaves

Variegation can produce some gorgeous effects in the garden and we instinctively know that by the way our eyes and hearts are drawn to these “color freaks” in the garden centers. Variegation is the effect of two different colors in the leaves and stems of plants, it occurs very rarely in nature. Variegated plants are chimerasin botany: usually single organisms composed of two genetically...

Posted by the gardener on Jan 9, 2011

The Prairie Garden

Few of us will ever see a true prairie like the pioneers of old had seen, but we still have the plants, and many of those are ideal for the challenging conditions of drought. Prairies are rare now, but some enthusiasts believe you can have a little piece of the prairie in even the smallest of yards, and I am inclined to agree. How did the original settlers see the native prairies? What do...

Posted by the gardener on Oct 12, 2010

Too Many Flowers

How can you say that there are too many flowers? What sort of garden heresy is this? Perhaps too many flowers all at one time is a distraction in your garden, instead of an attraction. Perhaps the idea of garden design which highlights the season’s beauty, but in an edited and focused way might be both better visually and better practically ( in terms of work and money). May Dreams Gardens in her...