So many of us are familiar with the lovely scents of hyacinths, daffodils, and Easter lilies, it’s easy to forget that there are also spring flowering shrubs that equal, if not surpass, the sweet fragrances of their herbaceous relatives.

Did you know that over 90% of flowering plants are pollinated with the help of insects? Native pollinators like solitary bees, butterflies, flies and beetles are essential for good harvests and beautiful flower plants.

Everyone is thrilled in the spring when yellow explodes all over the garden. Forsythia, Crocuses, Daffodils, all burst forth like trumpets blaring “THE SUN IS SHINING; THE AIR IS WARMING; HURRAH!”

As much as gardeners fret over certain herbivorous, seemingly insatiable insects every summer, there are far more varieties of ‘good’ insects that control the hungry few.

When you think of geraniums, what comes to mind? Did you imagine a bright red or pink cluster of flowers perched atop a stalk that extends six inches or more above fuzzy, light green leaves?

Known for their little gem-like flowers, you’ll no doubt be surprised and delighted by the toad lilies. Perched above 2-3’ tall stems or growing along nodes, the intricately patterned flowers are wonderful harbingers of autumn. So, why are these cute Asian, fall-blooming perennials called toad lilies?

Known for their structure, seed heads and graceful movement, ornamental grasses can and should be an integral part of your garden. When planted en masse, they provide a continuity of color when placed amongst broad leaved plants.

Commonly when we think of endangered species in North America, we might think of Polar Bears; when we think of extinct species, we imagine the Ivory-billed Woodpecker. But plants fall into these categories also. According to the website Gardenia, the US Forest Service estimates that invasive species have contributed to the decline of 42% of US endangered and threatened plant species, and the extinction of up to 18%. “They displace and alter native plant communities, degrade wildlife habitat and water quality, and potentially lead to increased soil erosion.

It’s that time of year again! And this year has some good reading to offer for gardeners and their friends.

For those of you who missed the May 25 program presentation by Daniel Brown of Rust Belt Riders, here are some takeaways:

If you visit my garden in summer, you will see clematis growing in every corner. It is probably my favorite perennial and I have devised many ways to take advantage of the color and dimension they provide.

Daffodils (Narcissus) aren’t just yellow or white, nor are they only known as ‘King Alfred’ trumpet types. In fact, The American Daffodil Society classifies daffodils into 13 divisions based on their flower shape and heritage.

Between the spring blooms of daffodils and the early summer blooms of perennials, the wood hyacinth (Hyacinthoides hispanica) is simply spectacular in late May.

I am frequently asked if I grow anything edible. While I could say that our daylily flowers are edible, I don’t make a habit of eating them.

It’s getting to be time to start thinking about planting bulbs for early spring blooms. While you’re thinking about all the beautiful types of daffodils to plant, don’t forget about another beauty, Alliums.

While many of our deciduous trees in northeast Ohio put on colorful shows in Autumn, let’s not forget that many shrubs do the same just on a smaller scale!

Here are four outstanding shrubs that you can see this fall.

When fall brings us warm, sunny days and cool, crisp evenings, that is the perfect combination for seeing red— trees, that is! The red color in leaves is caused by a pigment in the cells called anthocyanins.

Popularized in Victorian England, Cyclamen were all the rage during the holidays in that era. And, like many plants, they have gone through cycles of admiration over the decades.

Despite what is happening the world over, spring is still coming to our gardens, providing us with much needed color and joy during this stressful time. Right now, you can see the blooms of crocus, snowdrops (Galanthus), Lenten roses (Helleborus), and late winter-blooming witch hazels (Hamamelis x intermedia).

It might seem early, but April 15 is a good rule of thumb for putting your hummingbird feeders out. My personal experience over the last 12 years has been that they arrive within the first two weeks of May.