To create the perfect backyard sanctuary, consider adding a water garden or water feature. Landscape ponds, waterfalls, water garden pots and fountains add visual interest to the garden, increase the diversity of plant species that can be grown and attract beneficial wildlife. Elements with ...

Rabbits, squirrels and deer are common visitors to flower and vegetable gardens throughout the year, but the lush new growth produced in spring may be especially appealing to them. If plants are eaten or dug up this spring or summer, one of these animals is likely to blame. Exclusion and ...

Annuals and perennials are nicknames given to broad classifications of plants with many different attributes. Annuals are the ones known best for providing vibrant color. They are versatile, establish quickly, typically have long bloom times (or provide season-long color with foliage) and are ...

Adam Sullivan wasn’t able to be with his wife, Kacey Sullivan, for her ultrasound appointment a couple weeks ago. It was an experience the couple wanted to share: seeing their future baby for the first time. But due to restrictions placed on doctors’ offices by the coronavirus, Sullivan ...

To make the most of garden space and extend the amount of time that vegetables are harvested from the garden, consider succession planting. Succession planting is a process that takes a little bit of planning, but most gardeners can easily incorporate it into their year-round planting routines ...

Pansies, daylilies and other flowers are better known for their cherry blossoms than their delicate flavors, but they are edible and add interesting flavors, textures and colors to meals. Edible flowers are rare in the grocery store, but many species are easy to grow in landscapes and food ...

Planting vegetables and herbs in containers is an easy way to start gardening on a small scale and is ideal for people who lack yards or whose yards are unfavorable for a traditional garden. A few crops can be planted now, and supplies can be gathered for later spring plantings. Selecting a ...

Local garden centers are working hard to adapt to the coronavirus pandemic and get necessary items to customers in the safest manner possible. Usually, shopping for plants is an experience in itself. The air smells different in a greenhouse in spring, full of the earthiness of potting soil and ...

Hostas, daylilies, sedums, daisies and other perennial flowers and ornamental grasses can outgrow their space and exhibit reduced performance over time. Digging plants up, dividing them and replanting smaller portions is the best way to alleviate these problems. Fall is often touted as the best ...

Framed maps line the wall in the entrance of David and Sacie Lambertson’s home, a hint at the worldly collection of decorations the couple has inside. The former career diplomat and his wife have lived in six countries and multiple states, and their renovated home at 715 New York St. ...

EDITOR'S NOTE: A cozy bungalow in East Lawrence. A seven-level midcentury home on the west side. A modern abode with dozens and dozens of windows. A couple of houses that are more than a century old. Those are just a few of the interesting homes whose stories the Journal-World has told ...

The idea of growing your own food and spending more time working in the yard might seem more appealing than ever — the arrival of spring in Kansas is a great time to get started. Gardening can seem daunting if you lack experience, but there are plenty of reliable resources out there to help. ...

The herbaceous, perennial hop plant is best known as a component of beer that adds a bitter flavor, but it can also be used in nonalcoholic beverages and herbal medicine, and it can be grown here in Kansas with a little special treatment. The flowers are a unique crop of special interest to ...

Black walnut trees have a reputation for being hard to get along with, at least to gardeners wishing to grow tomatoes and other plants in their vicinity. The trees produce a chemical called juglone, which damages other plants. The challenge is understanding which other plants are affected by ...

Warm weekend days across the Midwest coupled with the impending arrival of spring have most gardeners excited to get outside and work in their yards and gardens. There are many tasks that can be done this time of year, some that should wait until later in the spring and a few that can be saved ...

If you want to plant an apple, peach, pear, cherry or other fruit tree in your yard, early spring is the best time to do so. You should keep a few factors in mind when you plant: site conditions, pollination requirements and which varieties are well suited to Kansas’ climate and pests. ...

The unassuming ranch-style home doesn’t provide a clue to what visitors will find once they walk through the front door. Guests enter into a brightly lit space in Steve Fendt and Marty Olson’s North Lawrence home at 822 Maple St., where at every turn objects and pops of color meet the ...

Warmer temperatures and longer days mean that sap is beginning to flow in maples and other trees around the Lawrence area. The weather changes signify the ideal time to collect tree sap for syrup-making purposes. Tapping a tree for sap and making syrup is somewhat uncommon in this region, but ...

Packets of seed for vegetables and flowers often contain more than a gardener needs in a single season, and gardeners end up saving the rest of the packet for the next year. Then these open seed packets get misplaced or forgotten about and may end up being held over for multiple years. Late ...

The horticulture industry is growing, and experts say there are about twice as many jobs available within the industry as there are college graduates in the field to fill them. If growth continues, the demand for skilled horticultural professionals will follow. For those with an interest in ...