Landscaping

Best shade plants. A reader asks what shady plants and shrubs she can plant in a shady area of her yard. Best shade plants. A reader asks what shady plants and shrubs she can plant in a shady area of her yard.

Q: A friend is looking for ideas to plant on the side of her house that sees almost no sun at all. She needs something to go with the inevitable hostas.   Tip #1: Ferns will do wonderfully. Ferns have varied texture like other plants have colorful blooms. Small to large leaves. Wide to narrow…

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Elderberry varieties and uses. Not only are elderberries great for making jams and syrups, they are also a favorite for butterflies and other wildlife. Elderberry varieties and uses. Not only are elderberries great for making jams and syrups, they are also a favorite for butterflies and other wildlife.

If you have room for only one edible plant, consider growing elderberries. This arching eight-foot tall shrub is easy to grow, anchors the mixed border with its bold compound foliage and flowers, and of course, provides glorious clusters of shiny, dark purple berries.   Elderberries come in a variety of cultivars and species. The American…

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Tips for growing butterfly bushes in your garden. Butterfly Bush planting and care. Tips for growing butterfly bushes in your garden. Butterfly Bush planting and care.

Buddleia, also known as, ‘butterfly bush’, is one of the most beautiful and easiest flowers to care for. The blooms may be purple, white, pink, or red and appear in late summer. The leaves are gray-green and range from 4-10” long and are 1-3” wide.   Even though butterfly bushes are an easy plant to…

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