I feel this photo really shows the value of hardscaping in the garden. Want to have a seat?

Does it have to do with the UBBCcode being disabled? Are photos not allowed in this forum? I noticed the UBBCcode is enabled in the design section, and I was able to post a photo. I love to post photos, so any info would be appreciated.

Don't know why the pic didn't show, I'll keep trying.

Here's another one, Queen of the seas Hosta and Inazuma Japanese maple.

Some hydrangea bloom on old wood, some on new, and some on both. If your bushes bloom on old wood only, then your lack of flowers could have been caused by: pruning too late in the fall, deer browsing over the winter, or our colder-than-average spring last year zapped the emerging flower buds. If your bushes instead flower on new wood, then I'd watch for deer browsing in the spring/early summer or damage from some other animal/insect. I haven't heard of any diseases typical of hydrangeas that would cause this, but I'm not a hydrangea expert.

Your best bet is probably a wait-and-see approach. Hope for better weather this spring, and, if you notice any signs of deer browsing over the winter, then cover the bushes with burlap. Also, find out whether you plants bloom on old or new wood to make sure you're pruning them at the correct time. Good luck!

How much room is needed to grow a small patch of cucumbers and when is the right time to grow them?

Unfortunately, as you have discovered, ragweed is a very pernicious plant. Total eradication is pretty much impossible. The ragweed entry in Wikipedia says that your best bets are either recutting/mowing the plants every 3 weeks or using Roundup. Uprooting plants may work in the spring, but skin contact with the plants may greatly aggravate any allergy symptoms. Info on burning the plants is also given in the Wiki entry, but this is not an option in many parts of the country. Be sure to read the article and check your local ordinances before attempting a burn. Good luck!

My 94-year-old mother, transplanted from western Pennsylvania to southern Indiana, desperately misses her Boston Fern. I've searched and searched for one, to no avail. Does anyone out there know where I can buy a plant for her?
Many thanks!
... rita b

Hi there,

I have 3 lovely granddaughters who like to help "Papa" water the flowers and of course the first thing they want to do is take a drink from the hose. Did you know that it's virtually impossible to find a drinking water safe hose anymore? I finally found a place in Caldwell, Idaho that sells them and now I have to decide what kind to get, because hopefully I'll have them a long time. I've used 3/4 inch - too heavy and cumbersome - and 5/8 inch, and I am considering 1/2 inch. I don't have a sprinkler system yet, so I use the hoses to water my entire yard. Any information you can share about 1/2 inch garden hose is appreciated. Happy New Year!

I have been a subscriber for more than 5 yrs. The magazine focuses more on landscaping and flower gardening. It is a good magazine for an avid gardener.