When thinking of pollinators, images of bees and butterflies flitting and flying through a blossom-laden garden on a lazy summer afternoon come to mind. Bright zinnias and coneflowers, spectacular dahlias and sunflowers, serenely blue salvias and catmint, pastel shades of phlox and cosmos—these are just a few of our favorites that provide seasonal sustenance for these little helpers. But did you know that many pollinators arrive in our gardens much earlier? Many species of wild native bees and pollinating flies emerge from “hibernation” (the correct term in insects is “diapause”) in early spring, some of which only live for a few weeks. Bumblebee queens awaken early, searching out food to create "bee bread" for their larvae. Several species of overwintering butterflies pupate at this time. Honeybees can be active on mild days throughout the winter. These creatures can benefit from our help as well, so we’ve put together some tips to help you help them!

If you're dying to get out in the garden no matter the weather, then the prospect of winter pruning will thrill you. If you thought you were finally getting a break from gardening chores then well, not so much. But late winter is the ideal time to prune most woody ornamentals, as the branch structure is clearly visible, and plants will suffer less damage than if pruned in late summer or fall. There are exceptions, though, as pruning some species now will remove overwintering flower buds and leave you sorely disappointed come springtime. Whether you're needing some major renovation on those overgrown shrubs, or just want to tidy up a few errant twigs and sprigs, it's a good idea to know what's what. Here’s a list of what to prune now, and some general tips on why, what, and how you should be pruning:

Holiday decorations don't have to be expensive, or time-consuming to create. Chances are you already have the makings of some naturally beautiful arrangements right outside your door. Conifers such as Leyland cypress, pine, arborvitae and juniper, and broadleaf evergreen holly and nandina are common landscaping plants that work quite well. Accents of berries, pine cones, grass inflorescences and dried flowers can easily be found in the late fall and winter landscape as well. All of these can be used to create a design from scratch, or to elevate plain, less costly wreaths and roping. We've put together some tips for you on creating quick decorations with foraged materials.

Fall brings many changes to the garden. Some are particularly lovely, like the warm glow of the autumn sun highlighting nature’s new palette of ruby, copper and gold. Some are beneficial such as the bit of frost that sweetens persimmons and root crops. Some are just plain annoying—does anyone like raking leaves? Watching all those annual flowers fade away is always sad. We may miss our zinnias, and lament the passing of our petunias, but this gives us a chance to reimagine and reinvent our plantings come spring. Flowers come and flowers go, that’s all in a year’s gardening. But how are we supposed to live without our basil for 6 months? THAT is the worst of fall’s effects—turning a lush, mouth-watering mound of green into a slimy, blackened mass of mush. There’s nothing like fresh herbs to perk up everyday recipes, and nothing like the satisfaction and assurance of growing your own. So take heart--there’s no reason to let all that tasty goodness perish. It’s not difficult to preserve your herbal delights for a winter-long supply of flavor. You might even be able to create some amazing home-made gifts while you’re at it!

With the kokoro gardens' many guides to the culture of different flowers and plants, home gardeners will find plenty of useful information, as will those working in a more professional vein. Particularly striking are their creations centered on dahlias, a luscious blooming beauty that should be on your radar if you're looking for some big mid-summer through fall color impact or to add bold blooms to your cutting garden.

Roses are certainly one of the most beloved garden plants. For many, their beauty and fragrance outweighs whatever difficulties their culture presents. Plus, they are versatile in the garden--depending on the variety they can be grown either as groundcovers, shrubs, or trained to a trellis or structure. Many gardeners now opt for "Knockout" roses--even though their fragrance is minimal and the colors limited. Don't get me wrong--I'm not "knocking" them. They're a great solution when a long-blooming shrub is needed and understandably popular. It's just that landscapers have overused them to the point that they're like Starbucks--one on every corner, just like yellow and blue pansies in the fall. My eyeballs ache for a little visual diversity. But roses have so much more to offer--you might want to take a look at some other choices, and consider the effect that a stunning rose grown on a fabulous trellis or arbor might have in your garden.

Spring seemed to come late this year, with cool temperatures holding on in many areas of the country. Some of you let us know you still had snow in late April, and here in the Mid-Atlantic we’ve hardly had to turn on the air conditioning, as opposed to other years when we’ve had long 90 degree stretches in May. Of course, that makes it a little more challenging to decide whether last year’s plantings are just slow to emerge or if they’ve done a disappearing act. That can be extremely difficult for new gardeners—many’s the time in my previous life I had customers returning plants that were still alive but just hadn’t started new growth yet. One thing to remember is that “perennial” doesn’t mean “forever,” it just means that the plant takes more than one year to complete its life cycle, unlike annuals that grow, bloom, set seed and perish all in one year.

There's something so inviting about a vine-covered arbor or pergola. Whether used to create a welcoRed roses cover the elegant Kiftsgate Arch from Classic Garden Elementsming entrance, a shady garden nook, or softly frame a beautiful view, such a structure greatly enhances the landscape. There's no denying the drama of a red rose laden arch, or the romantic charm of a pergola draped in wisteria. But if you're trying to fill your garden with native plants, are there still good options?

We’ve all learned a lot over the last few years—maybe the most important thing the pandemic taught us is not to take even the tiniest things for granted. Who would have thought it would have been impossible to find common items like hand sanitizer or cleaning products? Even now we’re seeing late repercussions as logistical issues are causing shortages of grocery items including poultry, meat, and produce. We’ve realized that if we want to ensure our healthy food supply, the more we can grow for ourselves (and share with friends and neighbors) the better. Even if you have a postage stamp sized back yard, or only a balcony, there are many ways to grow a lot in a small space.

As a child, I remember spending many afternoons on my grandparents’ couch, gazing through their huge picture window at the birds visiting the feeders hung in the magnolia tree outside. It was the one bit of excitement that could be found at their peaceful country home, and I was mesmerized by the comings and goings, watching the flutter of red cardinals’ wings, the hopping of Carolina wrens and the speedy swooping of chickadees. And the music—trills, twitters, whistles, and sweetly sung notes, all part of a lively show enacted by seemingly delicate yet incredibly swift and agile feathered performers. I can still spend hours watching such a scene.