Page 4 - Michael Dirr News Today

If you think winter gardens aren’t very interesting, think again. The fact is we can choose trees and shrubs with color and texture, creating engaging views from our windows. When we planned our Greenfield garden, I was thinking about plants that...

Plant a firethorn bush in your backyard to welcome birds and bees while providing year-round beauty. This shrub features colorful fruit and pretty flowers.

Ready to shop! Every time I turn on the radio or open a newspaper, there are articles about supply chain issues. Even the reliable old U.S. Postal Service is saying deliveries may well be delayed. So share some garden produce this year or shop at a...

When you are a gardener, it is always great fun to meet a new plant. For me, it’s even better when a neighbor teaches me about the plant. In this

More people are switching to live Christmas trees this season.

Van Wert, Ohio breaking news and local information from the Van Wert Independent.

Van Wert, Ohio breaking news and local information from the Van Wert Independent.

Henry Homeyer: The basics of a garden library Two of my favorite books by Sydney Eddison. On left, “The Gardeners Palette” and on the right, “Self-Taught Gardener.” Two fine books on perennial flowers. On the left, “The Well-Tended Perennial Garden (Planting & Pruning Techniques)” by Tracy DiSabato-Aust; on the right, “Herbaceous Perennial Plants, Fourth Edition) by Allan M. Armitage. I will never have too many gardening books. HENRY HOMEYER photos / For the Monitor Michael Dirr...

Mophead hydrangeas. Three days after the 2020 tornado ripped through Nashville, I followed its path along I-40 East toward Cookeville, Tennessee, to interview master gardener Leo McGee about the hydrangea garden he and his wife, Gloria, have spent the last thirty-six years tending. (You can read the original story here.) When presented with the stunning results of years of hard work up close, it was impossible not to be in awe of his immense knowledge and skill, especially knowing just how tric...

Dont miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook.   I know that many people, especially gardeners under the age of 40, use the internet to find the answers to their questions. That is fine, but the internet is full of “fake news” and spurious assertions. I do use the web, but if I want to learn about something in-depth, I reach for a book. People who write books generally write about things they know. Garden books are written by gardeners. Some years ago I taught a class in sustainab...