The Blog

Mike Westphal, garden guru gives a sneak peak at the newest and most anticipated varieties of petunias and million bells for this weekend's annual petunia party! Mike also offers some invaluable advice on care and maintenance.

By Kathy Van Mullekom

Every time I move, I create my all-time favorite garden. Each is different and memorable.

First, there was the woodsy shade garden with camellias, azaleas, ferns and Japanese maples. Large-cupped, yellow Carlton daffodils emerged early spring under deciduous trees before they leafed out, and violet-flowering, cold- hardy geraniums (Geranium Rozanne) popped with summer color.

Fairy gardening continues to be a trend we love and with all the customizable options the threshold for whimsy reaches glittery unicorn and pot-of-gold-at-the-end-of-the-rainbow status! These miniature gardens bring magnanimous amounts of fun to all ages and are the perfect solution for a kid’s birthday party, bridal shower, girls night out, or anniversary. Or maybe it’s just you, your fairy garden supplies, and a nice pinot noir!?

Selecting the Right Mulch

There is no one, universal mulch for everything. There are pros and cons to every mulching material. Whatever the material, mulch needs to stay put to be effective, but should also be easy to remove and apply.