Sometimes gardeners garden without realizing the benefit they provide to others. Valentin and Daniela Vidrascu’s garden, on a quiet street in east Lawrence, is a perfect example. The flowers and shrubs Daniela has planted in front of their home offer a bright spot to passers-by.When the ...

I am pretty sure I grow the best jalapenos in Douglas County. Tomorrow I will prove it by entering my peppers in the open class horticulture exhibit at the Douglas County Free Fair.If friendly competition with fellow gardeners sparks your interest at all, join me. Jalapenos, along with other ...

The shape and beauty of next winter’s Christmas tree is probably far from your mind right now. Getting just the right look to a Scotch pine is high priority to Christmas tree farmers, though, even in the summer heat. Eric and Lyn Walther and their son Mitchell, who operate Strawberry Hill ...

As a plant lover, I know how easily I get caught up in trees and shrubs and flowers. A beautiful landscape is much more than plants, though. It is dependent upon the lines and curves that lead your eye to emphasize just the right points and upon the structure that forms and frames it. The ...

Garden design is truly an art, and east Lawrence resident Shari Head is a talented artist. Despite a limited amount of space in both front and back yards, Head has painted a picture with unique focal points and season-long color. My favorite is a green and white variegated shrub that greets ...

One of the biggest challenges to creating an attractive landscape is getting plants to bloom throughout the seasons. This task is especially difficult because most perennial flowers, trees and shrubs typically only bloom a few weeks out of the year. Looking around Ellen and Howard Duncan’s ...