Topic: Flower Gardening

Climate change allows once-rare British butterfly to thrive

Although it's well known that climate change can prompt plants and animals to shift the ranges in which they live, the brown argus (Aricia agestis) has widened its living quarters with unusual speed, according to an analysis of decades of data collected by British volunteers.

Smooth phlox is a charming in-between bloomer

Smooth phlox blooms between the end of creeping woodland phlox of early spring and the start of summer's tall garden phlox.

Tiarella, or foamflower, does double duty in the shade garden

Foamflower is a perennial plant that comes in two forms, clumping and creeping. Both Tiarellas are favorites with gardeners who have shade.

Peony season

When peonies bloom in spring, it's time to think about adding more next season. Singles or doubles may be the question.

Hybrid catmints: Cool cats in your landscape

Prolific blossoms, fragrant leaves, and cold-hardiness make catmint a perfect plant for almost any garden.

Walking in a woodland garden

Want good ideas on how to combine woodland wildflowers in attractive combinations? Take a walk in the woods.

Southern California gardening in May

If you garden in southern California, here's what to do in early May.

Four unusual shade perennials to try

Light up a woodland garden with this quartet of unusual shade-loving perennial plants.

After a move: Replacing your favorite plants

When a gardener moves, she finds that it's hard to replace some of her favorite roses and other plants.

Earth Day and every day gardening with children

Earth Day – or any day – is the peak time to be gardening with children, sowing the seeds of a lifelong habit.

The little tulips: Tulipa tarda proves that less is more.

Little species or botanical tulips aren't as showy as hybrids but they grow in every U.S. region and return year after year.

April gardening in southern California, Part 2

April is the time to try some different annuals in southern California. Watering will also be a concern.

April gardening in southern California, Part 1

Among the gardening activities to do in southern California in April are planting vegetables and flowers, and checking the watering system to ensure it's working well.

Dwarf larkspur: an early, colorful wildflower

Among the charming early wildflowers is dwarf larkspur, Delphinium tricorne.

French marigolds: There are no better annuals.

New cultivars of dwarf French marigolds really brighten the garden and are among the easiest annuals to grow.

The canna that thinks it’s a banana

Why this huge ‘foliage plant’ defies descriptions

93 days to achieve garden perfection

The annual garden tour is closer than it seems. Good thing pride works as fertilizer.

Valentine's Day: cost of romance rising for flower delivery, 4 other things

When you arrange for flower delivery or take a special someone out for dinner this Valentine's Day, it'll cost more than it did a year ago. That's the cold hard fact about a warmhearted and festive day, according official US inflation data.

But the rising cost may actually be a relatively small one: Those chocolate or flower prices haven't been rising at gas-pump-fast rates. Here's the official inflation tally of five common Valentine's Day activities, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Valentine's Day gifts: How to save money on roses

This Valentine's Day, consumers will spend an estimated $1.8 billion on flowers, mostly roses. But high demand combined with an off-peak growing season can make Valentine's Day roses quite pricey. Here's how to save.

Eudora Welty: the garden at the heart of her creativity

Eudora Welty's love for flowers is explored in a new book. 

The four-legged gardener

With natural pruning skills and a thorough love of dirt, Ricky offers enthusiastic, if unskilled, assistance.

It's a wild scene in the backyard

A few groundhogs in the yard have been eclipsed by a wildlife invasion.

Fall planting in southern California gardens

There's still plenty of time to plant flowers and vegetables in southern California gardens, but get started now.

Is it time to try something new in the garden?

Are you in a gardening rut? Then it's time to explore something you haven't done before -- maybe floral design.

Which spring-flowering bulbs do well in southern California?

Fall is the time to plant daffodils, tulips, and other spring-flowering bulbs. Which ones will grow well in southern California, and which ones won't? Here are the answers and planting advice.