Gardening Sweet Spots – The Emerald Necklace Garden Club

It’s hard to tell if mosquitoes will be a big problem this summer, but you can take some preventative steps now to enjoy a bite-free season. Check out the lovely-scented plants that will also keep bugs at bay, pair plants with homemade repellent, and tidy up yard debris that provides homes for larvae and adult mosquitoes. Work now to have a nearly itch-free season. ...

Oh, deer! The best way to avoid the shock of seeing your beautiful flowers demolished overnight by browsing deer is to deter them from entering your garden in the first place. Here are some tips for outwitting the deer whose roaming paths cross your gardens, as well as suggestions for planting what the deer don’t like. ...

What would Picasso do? Or Van Gogh? Or Mondrian? Look at iconic paintings from these artists and imagine containers planted with flowers in the colors in their paintings. Keep in mind the thriller-filler-spiller design recommendation to keep your containers well balanced when selecting plants. ...

Every garden needs a focal point – something for the eye to focus upon. A container can be a very effective focal point, whether left empty or planted. Here are some points to consider when choosing garden containers. ...

The days are getting longer, garden stores are stocked with seed packets and onion sets. We're getting closer to garden season. This year, make plans to share your hobby with a child Their sense of wonder is refreshing and contagious. Working with plants and building a garden can bring all the senses alive, creating fun as well as providing the opportunity for learning life lessons. Blogger Donna Hessel shares creative tips on sharing the joys of gardening with children.  ...

When there’s light snow covering the ground, it’s easy to see the “bones” of your garden. It's a perfect time to plan for redesigning existing garden plots, adding new ones, or creating transitions from one to another for a more pleasing flow. In this inspiring and practical blog piece by Donna Hessel, discover how to develop an artist's eye and redesign your garden in ways that please the senses. ...

Birth month flowers, like stars and gemstones, have symbolic and sentimental meanings. There's the January carnation, the April daisy and the October marigold, for starters. Find your birth month flower and see if its symbolism characterizes you. ...

January is a great time to think about possibilities for gardening in 2021, even if they're not quite “resolutions.” Here are some suggestions you might consider. Your garden will thank you. ...