Garden Experiments
For the love of gardening and wildlife habitat
Trees and shrubs add shade, structure, nesting and roosting habitat, and beauty to your garden. Select your tree or shrub based on growing conditions, height, season of interest, and more. Some trees and shrubs are deciduous while others are evergreen. Selecting the perfect one for your garden depends on your overall garden design and purpose.
When I was learning to identify plants, the leaves of boxelder used to trip me up. To me, they looked so much like poison ivy. However, there are a few key features that can help you tell the difference between these two plants. Boxelder Maple Similarities with Poison Ivy The leaves and leaflets of these two plants have a similar appearance. …
Continue Reading about Is this Poison Ivy? How to Tell Boxelder from Poison Ivy
I often see sassafras growing along the trails, in the forest breaks, and in old fields. However, it’s the mitten-shaped leaves that stand out to me. If you break off a twig of a sassafras tree and smell it, you get the distinct smell of root beer. My dad used to do this for us every time we took a hike with him. It was a family tradition and …
Fall is a great time to enjoy the beauty of nature in your garden. Native shrubs offer various foliage colors, colorful berries, textures, and shapes that will add interest and color to your yard all season long. Add a few native shrubs for fall color into your landscape! Witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) In late fall and early winter, this …
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You might think that the best part of your garden are all visual - the flowers, textures, and colors - but have you considered fragrance as a component of your garden? A scented garden can bring back memories, relax and calm you, or just put a smile on your face. At least, that's what these fragrances do for me. When I walk through a …
Continue Reading about Create a Scented Garden with these 20 Flowers, Trees, Shrubs, and Vines
Oakleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia) is a mounding, perennial, deciduous shrub that can grow to heights of up to 10 feet and nearly as wide (up to 8 feet generally). It produces branches from the base of the shrub, creating a mound-like shape for the plant. It is hardy in zones 5b through 9, but it requires the warm summers to perform …
There are many species of native shrubs that grow in the shade. These native plants need little sunlight and some species can handle deep shade conditions. Add some color and texture to those shady areas in your garden with shade-loving native shrubs that flower in the shade. By adding these native shade shrubs in your landscape, you are …
