Among butterfly attracting plants, tithonia Mexican sunflower rises to the top. This is both because of its height as well as its popularity with these pollinators. Monarch butterflies, especially, stop by my plants daily to fill up on nectar on their migration route. This article tells you all you need to know to add tithonia Mexican sunflower to your garden, including why you should consider this plant, where and how to plant it, and the best care and maintenance for the best blooms.
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Growing hollyhocks from seed
Whether their seeds are sown indoors or out, growing hollyhocks from seed is a rewarding experience. I like to say that hollyhocks are great for your gardening self-esteem because they grow from a tiny seed into a towering spire of colorful blooms with very little effort. A staple of every cottage garden, hollyhocks have so much to offer the landscape. In this article, I’ll share insight into how to grow hollyhocks from seed and how to ensure they return to your garden year after year.
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How to plant sweet potato slips in your vegetable garden
Knowing when and how to plant sweet potato slips in your garden is the first step to success with this crop. You can start your own slips or buy some already rooted from a local garden center or online supplier. However because they can be difficult to source, learning to grow your own slips is a useful skill. In this article I’ll guide you through the process of making your own sweet potato slips and show you when and how to plant them outdoors to get a strong start to the growing season.
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A tour of Le potager du roi / The King’s Garden in Versailles, France
Outside the official grounds of the Palace of Versailles in France lies a gated vegetable garden that dates back to the 17th century. Le Potager du Roi, which means The King’s Kitchen Garden, was commissioned by King Louis XIV, and designed to feed those at court and his servants. This is a veggie gardener’s dream. Gardens teem with vegetables, herbs, and flowers. Additionally, hundreds of fruit trees are planted around the perimeter, pruned using various techniques. What’s amazing is that the garden still exists pretty much as it did during the Sun King’s reign.
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Deer proof gardens: 4 sure-fire ways to keep deer out of your garden
Gardening with deer presents a unique set of challenges. Those of us familiar with the battle know how difficult it can be to have a beautiful garden in deer territory. The furry buggers seem to know exactly which plants are our favorites, don’t they? Over the last twenty years I’ve tended over 40 gardens as a professional horticulturist, and I’ve learned a lot about the ups and downs of gardening with deer in that time. Today, I’d like to share all of the things I’ve learned and present a four step plan for building gorgeous, nearly deer proof gardens.
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Planter ideas: Inspiring design tips for creating gorgeous garden containers
I am always on the lookout for creative planter ideas. I find them on walks around my neighborhood, on garden tours, at botanical gardens, even at some of my local nurseries. Besides the endless array of foliage and bloom choices, the containers themselves can also play into the look—or fade into the background, letting the plants get all the attention. It all depends on the look you’re going for. Either way, I look forward to putting together my own planters each spring.
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