Fine Gardening – Issue 218

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Gardening Against All Odds | Letter from the Editor

Do all gardeners secretly think they’ve got it the worst? For instance, because I garden in New England, I feel like the glacial till (aka unbelievably rocky soil) and massively…
Design an Engaging, Naturalistic Garden in the Shade

Twenty-five years ago when my wife Kathy and I started searching for a new home for our growing family, she focused on all the qualities one looks for in a…
Design an Engaging, Naturalistic Garden in the Shade - Plant IDs

Starting a new garden from scratch can be daunting, but it’s also a fantastic opportunity to create exactly what you want. The vision I had for my new garden (two…
5 Simple Steps for Creating a More Eco-friendly Garden

For years I’ve heard the same refrain: You can’t have a good-looking garden that is also eco-friendly. It seems that many folks think native plants are too wild looking and…
Perfect Plants for Slopes

We design gardens in northwestern Connecticut’s Litchfield Hills, and many of our clients’ properties have sections that are rocky and steep. Embracing the unique contours of each site, we have…
A Seaside Garden Designed to Withstand Punishing Conditions

When Susan and Coleman Burke purchased land overlooking the bay on the Massachusetts island of Nantucket several decades ago, they were able to build their house and seaside garden from…
Adaptable Plants for Sites with Mixed Conditions

These versatile selections can take a range of different light or soil conditions, making them a perfect fit for a growing or changing garden.
A Garden Planting Plan That Utilizes Adaptable Plants

This plan represents a bed along a property fence between the west side of a house and a large canopy tree. The edge of the border is curved because I…
5 Plants That Thrive Across Varied Soil Types and Textures

The following plants come from habitats that are seasonally or permanently wet, yet they can thrive in drier upland regions too. They are also tolerant of different soil types and…
5 Easygoing Plants That Can Adapt to Either Sun or Shade

The following selections exhibit a remarkable ability to grow in a variety of lighting situations, including those outside of their preferred conditions. Shrubs The super-showy fruit of Proud Berry® coralberry…
How to Determine if a Garden Bed Is Full Sun or Shade

There is little you can do to control how much shade or sunlight a garden bed gets. Sure, you can cut down a tree to let in more sun or…
Grow the Best Red-Hot Pokers – Planting Guide and Trial Results

Like many northern gardeners, I had red-hot poker envy for many years but ruled out growing them because of their iffy chances of surviving winter in my region. However, I…
‘Ambassador’ Allium: A Towering Beauty for the Early Summer Garden

I have grown alliums for their stunning architectural form for years, but one is by far my favorite: ‘Ambassador’. Although its bulb is related to garlic, onions, and shallots, this…
Mohr’s Rosinweed Is an Impressive Native Pollinator Plant

I was first introduced to Mohr’s rosinweed on a botanizing trip to northern Alabama. It’s a true native stalwart and one of the many durable plants in the genus Silphium…
Cheap Garden Tools With Multiple Uses

These versatile tubs can haul anything from weeds to water Tested by Mark Dwyer The Gorilla Tubs from Red Gorilla are made of a thick rubberized plastic. They are high…
Tips for Outsmarting Squirrels and More

Prune ornamental grasses without making a mess Spring cleanup can be a real mess. If you cut your own ornamental grasses, that’s especially true if it’s a windy day and…
Touring an Eco-friendly, Shady Backyard Retreat

You must be careful when you enter the backyard of garden designer Jeff Epping—not because you’re likely to trip on something, but because you might be dive-bombed by a pair…
‘Purring Tiger’ Siberian Iris Has Truly Unique Coloring

Siberian irises are known for filling the bloom gap between late spring and midsummer. They blossom after Japanese iris (I. ensata, Zones 4–9) but before bearded iris (I. germanica, Zones…
Fine Gardening Magazine Issue #218 Web Extras

All Magazine Extras!
Planting Plan of a Seaside Garden That Sustains Punishing Conditions

Susan Burke’s home and garden on the Nantucket shoreline off the coast of Massachusetts were designed from scratch when she and her late husband first purchased the property. Featuring tall…