The Blog

by Kathy Van Mullekom, a lifelong gardener and gardening writer living in York County, Virginia

Having lived on some kind of waterway for 25 years, I’ve learned much about the good and bad of waterfront gardening.

The good is that plants are often tougher than you think they are. Our yards have been though numerous saltwater tidal floods and most of the plants thrive just fine. Happily for me and the plants, refreshing rains typically follow flooding and wash away much of any salinity in the soil.

Sometimes called firecracker flower, this tropical variety puts on quite a show, featuring large clusters of dazzling, frilly orange flowers that pop against glossy dark green foliage. This flowering perennial is easy to grow, loves heat and humidity, and does well in full sun to partial shade. Enjoy blooms late spring through early fall and typically reaching a height and spread of 1-3 feet. Orange Marmalade is perfect for brightening borders, annual and perennial beds and looks fantastic in outdoor containers.

The dog days of summer have officially begun. And in these hot and humid summer months, it can be a challenge to keep your lawn looking green and healthy. So, we've had our lawn experts put together a few simple tips to help you keep that lawn looking lush all summer long.

For Warm Season Lawns: If you have Bermuda, St. Augustine, Centipede or Zoysia, follow these steps this summer...

The Best Screening Evergreen Shrubs

McDonald Owner, Eddie Anderson, grows garden-fresh herbs steps away from his kitchen and grill to bring flavors to summertime cuisine.

Why have all those store-bought herbs in the kitchen when you can have it fresh at your finger tips all summer? It only takes a small bed or a few large pots. Whether used by the pinch or by the bunch, garden-fresh herbs pull a recipe together by infusing most any dish with unmatched aromas and flavors.