Tomato time is my favorite time. In spring, the anticipation of slicing into a juicy, meaty ball of perfection has me planting more than I should. By midsummer, plumping tomatoes on fragrant vines motivate me. And in late summer, when the payoff arrives here in my zone 7 garden, I'm reminded ...

Every spring brings a new growing season and, for me and other garden communicators, dozens of not-yet-available sample plants sent by breeders and growers. To try them out, I squeeze some into my beds and borders, tuck others into containers, and plant the rest in the Maternity Ward, a ...

When summer temperatures soar, we humans can take shelter indoors. Our garden plants, however, have no such respite. Some may droop, wilt or get crispy, while others may simply refuse to bloom. Although there's not much we can do to counter extreme weather, we can equip our gardens to stand ...

Now that the gardening season is in full swing, so is the bad advice. There is no shortage of social media "experts" doling out "genius gardening hacks," and well-intended friends who, frankly, don't know what they're talking about. Their tips might sound brilliant on the surface, but dig ...

Douglas County Master Gardeners will be hosting its annual native plant sale this weekend. The sale will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 30, at the Open Pavilion at the Douglas County Fairgrounds, 2120 Harper St. There will be 100 varieties of plants that are locally grown. ...

When you look at your garden beds and borders, do you see any bare soil? If so, mulch is in order. Mulch is defined as a protective layer applied over soil to retain moisture, suppress weeds and moderate soil temperature around plants, as well as in uncultivated areas. But if used ...