What really is a cottage garden? When, where, and why did it originate?

Cottage gardens are indigenous to European cultures where people had small plots of land of their own. Every square inch of land would be covered with something of purpose, from cutting flowers to herbs and roses for culinary and medicinal purposes, to vegetables and fruit trees--without crowding or sacrificing plant health.

The cottage garden evolution began when food cultivation became a production industry and left the family (or city) garden, and when botanists began to explore the world, collecting and returning with new plants that sparked a renewed interest in gardening.

Cottage gardens soon were filled with hardy annuals, perennials and vegetables surrounding cottage type homes. They were loose, free flowing, and planted for beauty and pleasure instead of medicinal purposes, though herbs are often still incorporated. Many impressionist painters sought to capture the look on canvas, perhaps none so well as Monet's garden series. Monet's cottage garden that inspired his masterpieces can still be visited in Givergny, France.

Today, the cottage garden look is becoming popularized again. Into these lovely, colorful, free-flowing gardens, shabby-chic furniture and garden décor create a beautiful, inviting, and easy-to-relax-in outdoor living space. We are drifting away from shrub-lined homes and into waves of color, fragrance and motion.

We would like to introduce you to a number of perennials that are perfect for any cottage garden. But don't forget other fabulous possibilities such as roses, ornamental grasses, and vegetables (several vegetables have beautiful flowers). Below is our 'short' list of cottage garden ideas. There are many more; you will just have to come into the garden center to see them all.

These are all sun-loving flowering perennials. But if you have a shade garden, you can have the cottage garden look, too. That's right! When you come to see us, let us know your favorite sun and shade combinations. Lucky for us, and thanks to the plant finders of the world, our choices are many. Click here for our ideas for your cottage garden!

Not all plants are created equal in the eyes of children. Although they don't differentiate when it comes to flowers and vegetables or annuals and perennials, kids have their hands-down favorites. They prefer huge flowers like marigolds, petunia, and sunflowers and small vegetables like cherry tomatoes, dwarf carrots, and radishes.

They love unique color shades, too, so make sure to include flowers with multi-colorings such as pansy, snapdragon and striped impatiens, and vegetables such as purple carrots, and "Easter Egg" radishes, along with striped beets and tomatoes.

Textured plants are irresistible. If your conditions are right for them, include the fuzzy woolly thyme and lambs' ears, the prickly coneflower and strawflowers (for sunny locations) and donkey tail fern, maidenhair fern and columbine (for shadier spots).

Fragrant plants transport the imagination. If you grow them now, your child will always remember the scents of daphne, heliotrope, roses, peonies, and lilacs. If you show them which plants to rub between their fingers, they'll never forget lavender, chocolate and pineapple mint, lemon balm, rosemary, basil, and scented geraniums.

Butterflies fascinate children, and there are many colorful plants that that will attract them. Consider including butterfly bush, lantana, monarda, salvia, sweet peas, and veronica--but don't overlook carrots, dill, fennel, and parsley to round out their diet.

Positively pickable plants also get the thumbs-up from kids. While mom's landscape may be off-limits for bouquet gathering, children should have free rein over certain cutting gardens. Cosmos, snapdragon, salvia, zinnia, coleus, and celosia are just a few that will produce more blooms if frequently picked.

Don't overlook spring- and summer-flowering bulbs that hold the promise and surprise of things to come. Use the same rules as above when selecting colors and varieties.

Gardening can truly be a fun experience for children, and we have just what you need to make every project a success. So stop by with your children and start planning your garden today. We'll help you get started on creating memories that will last a lifetime.

Summertime, summertime, sum-sum summertime….Summertime Bulbs! Now is the time to plant summer season bulbs for that Summertime Sizzle!

Tuberous Begonia (tuber)
There are many varieties of begonias from single or double flower, ruffled petal flowers, to camellia- or carnation-form flowers. Their colors are extremely vivid, from reds and red-orange to orange, yellow, white and hot pink; there are even bi-colored varieties. A highly versatile bulb, they are wonderful in flowerbeds, patio containers, window boxes, or hanging baskets.

Plant begonias in well-draining soil in an indirect light or dappled shade location. They also like regular watering and prefer to stay moist. Don't let them dry out. Begonias will bloom for you from summer into early fall. Dig them up in October to save them for next year.

Crocosmia (corm)
Crocosmia, a corm from South Africa, has sword-shaped, arching foliage and red/red-orange, orange, or yellow tubular flowers in a raceme configuration. (Raceme: a long flower cluster on which individual flowers each bloom on small stalks from a common, larger, central stalk.)

Croscosmias love full sun and well-drained soil. These flowers look beautiful if clustered en masse toward the back of your perennial border, as the foliage can be as high as 5 feet. They are spreading, so from time to time, you may want to divide. This is best done immediately after flowering.

Dahlia (tuber)
This wonderful flower (a tuber) was discovered by the Spanish when they arrived in the mountains of Mexico. There are many, many flower forms, sizes and colors. Dahlias are divided into a number of types based upon the shape of the flower: cactus, decorative (large, medium, small and miniature), ball pompoms, anemone, collerettes and paeony flower shapes.

Dahlias should be planted in your garden beds and borders in rich, well-drained soil. They are heavy feeders and like to remain moist. Mulch your garden beds to hold in the moisture. Also, for best results, clip off dead flowers to encourage further blooming. By the way, the dahlia is a wonderful cut flower. Dig them up in October to save them for next year.

Gladiolus (corm)
Another bulb originating in South Africa, the hybrids of today offer a wide range of colors covering almost the entire color spectrum!
Most frequently grown to be a cut flower, they occupy any number of areas of our gardens. They might be given a spot in the perennial border, but often they are given their own little plot.

They require full sun and well-drained soil, and may need staking. Try staggering the bulb plantings over a period of time to give you blooms throughout the summer into the fall.

Peony (rhizomes--Paeonia)
Peonies can be herbaceous or perennial shrubs originally from China, Japan and Europe. Flower colors range from white to pink, purple, red, and more! Some peonies have single flower forms and others a double form, all extremely beautiful.

Plant your peonies in full sun to part shade. Plant the roots so the "eyes" (nubs where new growth emerges) are facing upward. If peonies are planted too deep, they will not flower. Peonies sometimes do not flower until their second or third year after planting, but they will greatly reward your patience when they do flower. Take care to leave plenty of space between your plantings to allow for air circulation. And be sure to mulch once they are planted.

Herbaceous peonies bloom well only where they experience extended winter chill, and we certainly can offer that to this beautiful plant. These will die to the ground in late fall, only to burst back in the spring, flowering in the summer.

Tree peonies can grow up to 6 feet tall. They are also deciduous, but maintain their woody form in winter, with annual pruning in fall to control plant size. The tree peony's woody branches will bear gorgeous flowers from spring into summer.

Canna (rhizome)
If you love bold flower and foliage colors, cannas are for you. They will bloom spring, summer, and fall. There are many varieties and can add color pizzazz to any flower border. Although they are native to tropical and subtropical regions, you can add this wonderful plant to any perennial flower bed or border. There are a large number of varieties to pick from, giving you many choices in size, flower color, and foliage color.

Plant in full sun with well-draining soil, after the last frost in the spring. Dig up the rhizome before winter frosts and store in a dry, frost-free location.

Preparing your soil for bulb planting is simple. Use a good amendment at a 50/50 ratio in the areas that you intend to plant your bulbs. As you dig each hole for the bulbs, add some bulb food like Dr. Earth Bulb Food. Following this preparation and giving your bulbs the sun/shade and watering that they require will bring you a vividly colorful impressionist summer garden. Just imagine, your gardens will have an unbelievable, sizzling 'WOW' factor.

Azaleas are easy to love. Their amazing flowers put on an incredible display of color every spring like clockwork, helping to herald in the coming growing season. Whether in a formal or woodland garden setting, azaleas make a great addition to any garden. When these plants are in full bloom, it's almost impossible to see the foliage underneath.

For centuries, azaleas were only grown in Japanese gardens. But then native species were discovered in North America and eventually types from both countries found their way to Europe. In colder climates, the deciduous species (Exbury Hybrids) which are primarily from North America, perform the best.

Azaleas are versatile and can be used in almost any spot in the garden provided they have good drainage. Exbury Hybrid Azaleas can be grown in full sun in all but the hottest inland areas. Their flowers come in almost every color shade imaginable and the bushes range from 3 to 8 feet high and wide. They also reward gardeners with good fall colors in shades of orange and red. Many also have sweetly scented blooms. If you are short on space in your landscape, consider planting azaleas in containers to add another dimension to your garden.

Azaleas grow well in evenly moist and slightly acidic soil. They perform best when the soil is amended with peat moss or an acid planting mix like Acid Planting Mix before planting. They also like to be fed every few months with cottonseed meal or an acid plant food such as Dr. Earth Organic 4 Rhododendron, Azalea & Camellia Fertilizer . We recommend feeding from the end of the blooming season through early fall.

Azaleas don't require much pruning if the proper varieties are selected for the desired mature size. If occasional pruning is needed to control size or wayward branches, prune from one month after the blooming season has ended thru August. Pruning any later can remove the new blooms that are starting to set for the following spring which can start as early as September.

Whether pruned formally into shapes or left natural to blend in with the local surroundings, azaleas make a wonderful addition to any garden with their extraordinary offering of beautiful spring flowers.

Just click on this gallery link to get an idea of the wonderful varieties we stock.

How often should I feed my lawn?

Answer:
We recommend feeding lawns every two months during the growing season. You can start of by applying a lawn food in late winter to early spring that contains a pre-emergent herbicide, such as Master Nursery Pre-Emergent Crabgrass Control Plus with Lawn Food, to help prevent crabgrass and other weeds from germinating.

After that, switch to a complete lawn food like Master Nursery Master-Pro™ Lawn Food.

If summer weeds become a problem, apply a weed and feed fertilizer like Master Pro™ Weed Control & Lawn Food.

Make sure to give your lawn a final feeding in fall, before it goes dormant, to keep it green through winter. If a lawn goes into the winter looking yellow, you won't be able to green it up until temperatures warm up again.