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Ruby-throated hummingbird sipping nectar from a red tubular flower in soft bokeh light

More than feeders: Attracting hummingbirds to your landscape

April 10, 2026

As temperatures warm and spring progresses, our landscapes come alive. Plants resume growth and begin flowering, insects emerge, and hummingbirds return. These charismatic birds captivate us with their iridescent plumage and aerial agility. Many gardeners put out feeders to attract hummingbirds,...

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Crocus flowers that have been damaged by cold temperatures.

Spring teases and freezes: How spring temperature swings affect plants

March 20, 2026

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Early spring often brings unpredictable weather, from 80-degree days to temperatures well below freezing. While many plants are adapted to withstand cold temperatures when dormant, they become far more vulnerable once they begin to emerge from dormancy. While early‑emerging plants such as...

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Redbud tree with fall webworm webbing over foliage

Webs in trees: The life and impact of fall webworms

September 12, 2025

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There are many ways we mark the 'end of summer'. Some refer to the beginning of school or the closing of the pool, while others view Labor Day as the 'unofficial end of summer'. Another way, if you're more entomologically inclined, is the appearance of fall webworm.Fall webworm (Hyphantria...

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white flowers of elderberry cluster in an umbel spent flower head is in the background

The wild and wonderful elderberry

July 4, 2025

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Most of the time, I work hard to achieve a desirable outcome in my landscape but, from time to time, a plant comes along that is easy to establish and care for without being too aggressive, is beautiful, and produces food for wildlife and my family…black elderberry is one of those plants....

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Help! My forsythia isn't blooming like it used to

March 28, 2025

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Forsythias are planted for their stunning floral display in early spring. Have you ever seen a forsythia bush, and for some reason, there are only blooms at the very top or sparsely scattered around the plant? Or maybe wondered why it didn't bloom at all? While forsythia will produce an...

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a cedar waxwing bird sitting on a tree branch with a red berry in its mouth

Berry Succession: Creating a continuous food source for birds

March 14, 2025

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One of the most favored hobbies of outdoor enthusiasts, gardeners, and wildlife lovers is feeding the birds. Setting out a bird feeder with seed or suet cakes is a popular way many people use to feed the birds, but there are other ways to feed birds. Birds scavenge seed from plants, they will get...

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How does cold weather affect garden plants?

January 24, 2025

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As cold weather sets in, we often find ourselves retreating indoors where it is warm. However, our landscape plants can't do this, and during times of extreme cold, like this recent cold snap, we may find ourselves wondering how our plants will fare. How do plants prepare for...

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Is it a trick or a treat? lilacs in the fall title photo of lilac blooms among small ornamental pumpkins of orange and white

Is it a trick or a treat? Lilacs blooming in the fall

October 4, 2024

Good Growing

During this first week of October, many of the plants blooming in our landscape are mums, asters, goldenrods, sedums, and ornamental grasses. But what if your lilac is blooming? A lilac blooming in autumn is unusual unless you have planted one of the new varieties bred to bloom once in the spring...

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What’s that white stuff on my magnolia tree? Magnolia scale

July 19, 2024

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Magnolias are popular trees and shrubs in many landscapes. Their large, showy flowers can range from white to pink to yellow and provide a burst of color in the spring. While they are relatively pest-free, one of the biggest pests is the magnolia scale (Neolecanium cornuparvum), which...

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Need to move a shrub? Prepare them now for moving in the fall or spring

May 24, 2024

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So you want to move that shrub? I get it! Perhaps that shrub needs to go to a different spot in the yard. Maybe it wasn’t planted in the correct location to begin with. Perhaps a tree has grown tall casting more shade, or a tree has come down flooding the area with sunlight. Sometimes we just need...

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