Cosmos flowers do particularly well in lean soil. Some shorter varieties thrive in containers. It’s best to plant them just before the last spring frost, in full sun and in well-draining soil. Protect ...

It's easy to see why gardeners love cosmos. These delightful flowers burst with cheerful blooms in vibrant shades, from white to purple to pink. They're perfect in a meadow or English cottage garden, ...

We all dream of that perfect flower patch — one that you can pick from endlessly without thinning out your beds too much. One that Martha Stewart would be proud of; think bunches of detailed dahlias, ...

Forty years ago, Renee Shepherd was an instructor at UC Santa Cruz, having earned a Ph.D. at the university. She was accustomed to playing soccer with European graduate students and inviting them over ...

You know my rule: You are not a real gardener unless you start and grow at least one plant from seed for your yard. Another of my rules also comes into play now: Until April 1, you really don’t have ...

I’d like to grow more of my own plants from seed this year, having had success on a very small scale last spring. Do you think it’s worth my while investing in an electric propagator? Ask any seasoned ...