Iowa

  • midwest moon garden
    Design

    Moon Garden Inspiration for the Midwest

    My wife and I are both avid gardeners, but we typically only find time to sit and enjoy the landscape at dusk or after sunset. To maximize the evening appeal…

  • Flame Thrower eastern redbud
    Article

    Shopping-List Plants for the Midwest

    If you’ve run into a garden rut, we’ve got you covered. It’s time to start planning for your first trip to the local nursery or garden center. What plants will…

  • sloped garden densely planted
    Design

    Design Ideas for Managing Rainwater in Your Garden

    Whenever I am working to resolve water problems in a landscape, I must acknowledge that water will always win. The best we can do is creatively direct it toward the…

  • Garfield Park Conservatory
    Design

    Have You Visited the Garfield Park Conservatory?

    The winter doldrums are a reality in the Midwest, especially for gardeners, but an immersive plant adventure at your local conservatory is a sure way to lift your spirits. Fortunately,…

  • spring planting plan midwest
    Design

    Spring Planting Plan for the Midwest

    In her article "Spring Planting Ideas," Michelle Gervais beautifully illustrates the magical time that is the start of spring: "Our winter-weary spirits lift as hints of green begin to appear.…

  • evergreen plants in containers on either side of front steps of home
    Design

    The Best Dwarf Evergreens for Winter Containers

    No garden is complete without at least a few containers for seasonal color. I always specify locations for planters when I create a new landscape design, with the intention of…

  • garden in early summer with foliage from bulbs and perennials beginning to bloom
    Design

    Resetting the Border

    Kathy Schreurs in Sheldon, Iowa, is sharing her garden with us today. She wrote in right before the change from daylight savings time, and had this to say: It’s that…

  • growing herbs in cold frames
    How-To

    Winter Herb Gardening: Easy Herbs to Grow in a Cold Frame

    Cold frames are a great way to get a jump-start on or extend the gardening season. An easy way to get started with cold-frame growing is to put it to…

  • cascading plants
    Design

    Cascading Woody Plants for the Midwest

    Softening tall or craggy surfaces are situations that seldom come up in my design practice, as I work in environments that are typically rather flat. There are times, however, when…

  • deer-resistant plants for the midwest
    Article

    Plants That the Herbivores Will Avoid in the Midwest

    Fionuala Campion says in her article, Dazzling Deer-Resistant Perennials, "Though very graceful and delightful to behold in their native habitat, deer are a voracious force to reckon with in many…