How-to

How to Pull Your Potted Plants Through the Winter

by Kathy Purdy November 17, 2013

It happens to all of us. At least, it happens to me and a lot of other gardeners I know. Winter is right around the corner and you have all these plants in pots that you were sure you were going to have time to plant during the growing season. And now the growing season […]

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The Front Walk Is Finished

by Kathy Purdy August 31, 2013

Last weekend the last stage of the front walk project was completed. Every stone had to be leveled and the gaps between stones filled in.

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Stone Puzzle: The Front Walk Emerges

by Rundy July 28, 2013

The path project, on hold for weeks, finally took a step forward this past weekend. The split blue stone from the quarry arrived last week, three large pallets worth. The stone came in a variety of thickness and sizes, from half an inch thick to three inches thick, and from one foot in diameter to […]

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How to Rescue a Plant with Yellow Leaves

by Kathy Purdy July 11, 2013

Because my ‘Josef Lemper’ hellebore was turning yellow, I decided to contact my source for advice. This plant was sent to me to try out in my garden compliments of Skagit Gardens, so I contacted Rhonda Jennings, who sent me the sample, to see what she thought. The best thing to do, if you haven’t […]

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Garden Epiphanies

by Kathy Purdy April 13, 2013

Gardening experience, for the most part, is accrued bit by bit, as decisions are made to do this chore before the other, plants die and we know why–or we don’t–and mental notes are made about what is blooming when. But every so often, the gardener has an epiphany, a light bulb moment. These milestones represent […]

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Fairy Gardens: Preparing Them for Winter plus Book Giveaway

by Julie Bawden Davis March 19, 2013

They may look delicate with their dainty wings and ephemeral personalities, but don’t let fairies and their gardens fool you. With some weatherizing and a winter vacation indoors, you can tap into the fairy garden craze and enjoy your own miniature landscape no matter where you live. Container preparation Make your fairy’s home as sturdy […]

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Crocuses in the Lawn: Planting

by Kathy Purdy January 5, 2013

Is This A Good Place to Plant Bulbs? In my previous post on crocuses in the lawn, I explained why I chose the site I did. It had southern exposure, so the snow melted early there, and was near enough to the driveway so that anyone arriving would be sure to see them. So this […]

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Crocuses in the Lawn: Planning

by Kathy Purdy December 13, 2012

Crocuses in the lawn were not originally in my garden plans for this year. I knew I wanted to dig a lot of daffodils from my old garden and I would be replanting them in the fall. I suspected I would not have time to plant all those daffs and crocuses besides. (My suspicions were […]

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Year-round Uses for A Cold Climate Greenhouse

by Neil Moran September 12, 2012
greenhouse wreath

(Editor’s note: Neil Moran wrote North Country Gardening seven years before Cold Climate Gardening got started. I asked him to share what he’s learned since building his greenhouse.)As you all know, the summers are sweet, but short here in the North. It seems not long after we’ve sown our vegetable crops and put out the […]

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A River of Snowdrops? You Can Grow That!

by Kathy Purdy April 5, 2012

We noticed something about our new house this spring: no snowdrops! I set out last week to rectify that omission. My “river” of snowdrops at our old house was fifteen years in the making, but you can grow that!All you need is a dirt-stabbing tool, a clump of snowdrops, and pig-headed determination.Think I’m kidding?

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