tough plants - Fine Gardening
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DesignHow to Grow 10 Perennials for Continuous Summer Blooms
If there’s one thing the most exciting gardens have in common, it’s that they always have something beautiful happening. And that “something” usually means something in flower. Bringing that idea…
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DesignA Seaside Garden Designed to Withstand Punishing Conditions
When Susan and Coleman Burke purchased land overlooking the bay on the Massachusetts island of Nantucket several decades ago, they were able to build their house and seaside garden from…
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DesignDesigning a Hardy Garden
I have often thought of myself as “gardening against the odds.” My rural Black Earth, Wisconsin, garden is adjacent to a marsh and pond and is technically in Zone 5a,…
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Design‘Electric Blue’ Foothill Penstemon Is a Tough Native with a Unique Hue
As a true plant geek, I’ll admit that I’m a sucker for blue flowers. An impressive, truly blue flower is a rarity in nature. Perhaps that’s why I’ve been drawn…
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Design8 Slam-Dunk Perennials for the Midwest
While our gardens are always changing, we certainly put a lot of pressure on our plants to perform and look good, particularly the perennials. The wide range of soils and…
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Design3 Hardy Native Sedges You Should Grow
Being an undercover plant addict is my worst-kept secret. Sedges (Carex spp. and cvs., Zones 3–10) are my current fixation. I think spending so many years hooked on hostas (Hosta…
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DesignDurable Flowers to Grow in Sagebrush Country
The deserts and mountains of the West seem to get all the attention, but between the deserts and mountains is a vast landscape that most people just drive through on…
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DesignGrow a Rock Garden in a Challenging Area
A rock garden can help you overcome a number of challenges in the landscape of the Southern Plains—from poorly drained soil to hot, dry, rocky areas. It provides a means…
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DesignPerfect Plants for a Heavenly Hellstrip in Northern California
Reflected heat, passing foot traffic, poor soil, restricted space, and irrigation obstacles are just a few of the challenges faced by any plant grown in a “hellstrip.” This spot is…
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DesignTough, Low-Maintenance Shrubs for Southern California
Even if we have a wonderful year of rainfall, we need to rethink our Southern California gardens. It’s likely we will have many dry, hot years ahead. So let’s use…
Fine Gardening Magazine
