Horticulture

As has been the case for a number of years now, this Horticulture issue, the first of the year, celebrates public gardens. I always enjoy working on the content of our public-gardens issue because it’s a reminder of the important, varied roles that t

Sow. I sow seeds for globe artichokes under my grow lights in mid-February. It’s not a typical crop in my northern region, but short-season varieties like ‘Imperial Star’ and ‘Colorado Star’ provide a good yield of plump artichokes from mid-July thro

Hamamelis ×intermedia ‘Arnold Promise’. Fragrant, clear yellow, spider-like flowers appear on the bare branches of this architectural shrub in late winter. It typically flowers from mid-February into March, and its foliage turns bright colors in fall

Angelonia angustifolia. This summer annual can’t be beat for flower power and heat tolerance. High temperatures don’t phase it one bit. It just keeps blooming from spring right up until the first hard frost. Giant types like ‘Archangel’ boast two-foo

Monarchs, swallowtails, painted ladies, sulphurs, red admirals, hairstreaks, fritillaries, hummingbirds and other pollinators flock to this tall, narrow perennial for nectar in late summer. Abundant seeds fluff out later in the season to draw goldfin

Plant these in your garden for the summer, then keep them in active growth on your windowsills through the winter for use outside when the weather warms again. Need a quick, grass-like groundcover for a shady area? Spider plant fits the bill perfectl

Stash these plants in a dry, dark place each winter, and wake them up for a role in the garden when spring returns. I don’t water any of my tender succulents in the winter, from my aloes to agaves to cacti. I scatter them around the house, often in d