Topic: Craig Summers Black

A gardener shares her extensive plant knowledge

An Iowa gardener who sells plants at the Des Moines Farmers' Market includes expert knowledge of daylilies and many other plants at no charge.

The pawpaw's stamp of approval

A fan of the native fruit makes a postal proposal -- a stamp with the pawpaw on it.

Texas drought affects even wildflowers

Generally, wildflowers are adapted to the vagaries of their local climates. But the severe drought in most of Texas, including Fredericksburg, has many wildflowers struggling.

It's May, so why isn't it spring in Iowa?

Spring weather in Iowa has been challenging, to say the least. But the garden has produced some nice surprises.

Ever seen a tree covered in crochet? Head to Chicago.

Finding sun, trees, and tree art at Chicago's Morton Arboretum. One installation covers a tree outdoors in colorful crochet.

The easiest way to plant potatoes

While spring weather is still cold enough for crocus to be blooming, an Iowa gardener plants 100 seed potatoes the easy way. In fall, he'll be able to dig up 60 to 75 pounds of spuds.

Trees in a box

With mail-order, you can shop for a forest in your jammies.

A garden by the sea

Putting the cold winter in Iowa behind on a visit to a warm and lovely California botanical garden.

Euphoric about a euphorbia

Poinsettias may be among the best known euphorbias, but here are some euphorbias that make great outdoor plants.

The ultimate in easy ponds - almost

I wanted to create a simple, easy pond. What could go wrong? Let me count the ways....

Vegetable harvest just before the first hard frost -- whew!

When the first hard frost of fall is predicted, a gardener scurries around and quickly harvests all the vegetables left.

Three great plants are stars of my fall garden

The past year's weather was awful -- winter was too snowy, summer, too rainy -- but three great plants overcame all that to become garden stars in fall.

The Des Moines Farmers' Market: a Saturday tradition

At the Des Moines Farmers' Market on Saturdays, zucchini is a dollar, but petting a puppy is free. It's a great place to people watch and dog watch, as well as pick up everything from punk pumpkins to handmade clothes.

Sweet southern spuds in a northern garden

While searching for spuds to plant, this northern gardener discovers 25 sweet surprises.

Bordering on playtime

In an Iowa spring, reworking a shrub and flower border is almost like playtime.

Plants are still blooming under a snowy blanket

What's under that late-spring snowy blanket outdoors? You may be surprised to find that plants are still blooming – even in Iowa.

A Hawaiian garden paradise

The Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden will delight gardeners and non-gardeners alike.

Peace and beauty in a quiet, green Hawaiian garden

A tropical garden fit for royalty.

Two amazing late-season annuals

Here are two annual flowers that, amazingly, extend an Iowa's garden season by several months.

Say goodbye to the last flowers of fall

A befuddled forsythia bush blooms in three seasons

A forsythia bush is confused about what season it is – fall, spring, or summer.

Variegated forsythia in the fall

Tips for bulb planting success

When planting bulbs, here are the tips that will make yours efforts a success.

A swale idea

Chicago Botanic Garden: Of waterfall and waterfowl

Chicago’s climate is milder than my own (not as hot in summer, not as cold in winter), so some dramatic perennials were still in flower.