Seedlings stretch toward the first true leaf—where every spade holds a story.
Blooming22 articles
Container Gardens7 articles
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How To6 articles
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Light Requirements4 articles
Neem Oil3 articles
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Watering1 articleFounder & Editor
My childhood home had a garden that was never quite tamed—wildflowers growing between the rows of vegetables, tomatoes spilling over the fence, and my dad grumbling about the weeds he couldn’t seem to conquer. That place taught me that gardening isn’t about perfection; it’s about patience, curiosity, and the quiet joy of watching something grow.
Here, I share the lessons I’ve learned from years of digging in the dirt, from the plants that thrived to the ones that taught me valuable lessons (like why you should never plant marigolds too close to the fence line).
More from Fiona Whitaker
Pruning your Rose of Sharon tree isn't just about shaping—it's the secret to five times more blooms next summer. 🌿 I learned this the hard way after my first pruning left me with a sparse, leggy mess. The key…
Growing tamarillo trees from seeds starts with cold stratification—this simple trick boosts germination from 50% to 90%. 🌱 I learned the hard way that skipping this step means waiting months for sprouts, if they ever…
Mastering banana tree winter protection could mean the difference between a frost-killed plant and a burrito-wrapped survivor in freezing zones—here’s how I’ve done it in temps below 30°F. covering; it’s creating a…
Blue potato bush trees ( Solanum jasminoides ) turn your yard into a fragrant, flowering tower—if you prune them right. 🌿 I’ve seen these plants go from scraggly to showstopping in just one growing season, and the…
Cicada eggs on trees turn branches into sawdust traps—those tiny slits are where the next generation hatches, and if left unchecked, they’ll drain your tree’s strength. 🌳 I learned the hard way when my young oak’s…
The corkscrew hazelnut tree's twisted branches make it a garden showstopper, but pruning it right ensures those dramatic curls keep growing all year long. I learned the hard way—my first attempt left the tree looking…
A dogwood tree without leaves might seem like a lost cause, but it’s often just nature’s way of conserving energy during dormancy—especially for hardy transplants. I’ve watched my own dogwoods strip down to bare branches…
That first cut in early spring unlocks everything for your Dorset apple tree— pruning it right means sweeter fruit, stronger branches, and a tree that thrives for decades. I’ve pruned mine every year since planting, and…
Your dwarf Anna apple tree could be the easiest way to grow fruit in small spaces—this compact variety produces bushels of crisp, sweet apples on a tree that fits neatly in a backyard corner or large container. 🌱 I…
Growing a dwarf mango tree in your backyard means tropical fruit without the tropical climate. 🌱 I learned the hard way that pruning isn’t optional—it’s how you turn a leggy sapling into a compact, fruit-heavy tree that…
