There was a time when it was the norm to go out in the yard and pull fresh vegetables up from the soil. At some point over the years, we moved from the goodness of home-grown vegetables toward processed foods and microwave dinners. Now consumers are becoming more aware of the financial value of growing [...]

Gardening is good on so many levels, from the benefits of exercise in the outdoors and the opportunity to share special time with loved ones to having total control over the healthfulness of the vegetables you put on your family’s plates. But gardening can also be frustrating and futile – if you fail to protect [...]

The weather is getting warm, and while you’ve entertained the idea of gardening, you may not think you have what it takes. You too can garden once you know what you’re doing. Gardening is a fulfilling hobby and great exercise too. The Home Depot offers you the following Gardening 101 three-step checklist to set you [...]

In the vast world of outdoor lighting choices, whimsical outdoor light fixtures allow homeowners to create special areas of their garden that are their own fantasyland to enjoy. These fixtures can help create a special area for couples to enjoy or a storybook land that grandparents can share with their children. These whimsical outdoor light [...]

Planning an outdoor social event that will last into the evening hours requires the use of outdoor lighting that is portable and appealing at the same time. Party lights created using outdoor lantern lighting for special effects is a simple yet appealing way to light up the event for the party. Lantern lighting for parties [...]

Container gardening is a great alternative for people who don’t have the time or space for a full garden or flowerbed. Often, however, container gardeners may feel they have to choose between beauty and practicality. When you can only plant so many containers, what do you fill them with – flowers or veggies? “Both,” says [...]

Installing lights in the garden is a wonderful way to light up the darkness and continue to enjoy those summer evenings even when night falls. Before installing an outdoor lighting system homeowners should research the different types of lights available and what the impact to their utility bill will be. Other aspects to research are [...]

Like an alarm clock for our senses and our gardens, the thermometer swelling to 60 degrees awakens us in the spring. We all get the irresistible urge to get outside, birds are chirping, animals come out from hibernation and plants start unfurling their leaves and flowers to color our world. ‘The 60 degree factor’ signals [...]

The popularity of urban gardening has exploded over the past couple of years, due in part to increased awareness about food safety, the financial stresses of the economy and a growing desire to be eco-friendly. Some of the most enjoyable, user-friendly gardens, like vegetable and herb gardens or cut-flower gardens, perform exceptionally well in raised [...]

Do images of flowering trellises laden with yellow, pink, green and purple blooms dance through your dreams? You may be ready for some warm spring-like temperatures, but the weather outside is still a little frightful. Ignore the weather and bring spring inside with some indoor gardening. Not only does bringing spring inside help brighten your [...]

(ARA) – As fall harvest season begins, many gardeners find themselves with bushels of tomatoes, baskets of cucumbers and armfuls of lettuce. So when your garden is overflowing with produce, how do you make the most of your harvest? Gardeners know that the best way to experience fruit and vegetables at their prime is to [...]

(ARA) – If you haven’t yet joined the “grow your own vegetables” craze, it’s not too late to join in. You can produce a bounty of vitamin-rich veggies from plot (or pot) to plate this fall, plus you’ll save a bundle by growing them yourself. You may be surprised to find that with just a [...]

(ARA) – Whether city or country, bird watching is fun and you can create an environment for it in your own backyard in less time than you think. John Robinson, chief ornithologist and manager of Scotts Birding Center of Excellence, says there are three components to making your backyard an oasis for feathered friends: 1. [...]

(ARA) – Your vegetable garden has supplied your family with flavorful, nutritious fare throughout the summer. But the arrival of autumn doesn’t mean your days of enjoying your garden are over. If you plant now for the future and prepare for the coming season, it’s possible to enjoy a few last tasty morsels from your [...]

(ARA) – With all the bending, lifting and stretching involved, gardening can be a fun and effective workout – if you know how to make the most of it. Stacy Walters, registered kinesiotherapist, fitness director and creator of the Fit to Garden program, provides tips on how to turn a day of lawn and garden [...]

(ARA) – While some people see gardening as simply playing in the dirt, the physical and mental benefits are well-documented. In addition to being good for your mind and body, sustainable gardening is a great way to be kind to the planet, and to connect you to nature and the food you eat. Gardening is [...]

(ARA) – Lawns and gardens that are eye-catching have harmonious colorful plants in bloom and dramatic foliage varieties patterned in a way that appeals to the senses. Unifying blooming and foliage plants in gardens has become a popular trend because it allows homeowners to think outside the box of traditional flower beds. If planted with [...]

(ARA) – From corsages pinned to prom dresses to exotic specimens in greenhouses, orchids are the most glamorous flowering plants in the world, but few know just how easy orchids are to grow and how affordable they’ve become. “Believe me, orchids are easy to grow,” says orchid grower Steven Frowine in his book “Orchids for [...]

  (ARA) – Now more than ever we are all looking for ways to find affordable, earth-friendly hobbies and leisure activities to bring us moments of pleasure in a stressful world. Investing in a planter or two (or more!) can provide you with colorful blooms or delicious vegetables to brighten each day throughout the growing [...]

(ARA) – The economy is tanking, grocery bills are climbing and food safety scares are on the rise. For the 43 million Americans planning a vegetable garden this year, growing your own is a matter of dollars and sense. Food gardening will jump 19 percent this year over last year, according to a new survey [...]