Well, it’s blistering hot out there and as they say, only mad dogs and Englishmen would go out in the noonday sun. A cooling (cooler?) trend is on the way, but by then, the garden will have taken some whacks. Here’s how to cope.

Once again I’ve defaulted to petunias for the hanging baskets that decorate my porch eaves. A nostalgic favorite, these bright and obliging flowers need only a bit of care to keep truckin’ until frost.

High summer is here and with it comes thunderstorms, full of sound and fury. Learn how to protect yourself from these bolts from the blue.

We’ve just endured the summer’s first major heat wave and it’s been tough on plants of the temperate zone kind. When summer simmers, tropical species thrive. Push the envelope with some of these and create your own sultry little paradise.

The regal lilies are in season, awash in bi-colored trumpets releasing a heady perfume, This was one of the early discoveries of famed plant hunter E.H. Wilson (1876-1930), the Indiana Jones of the horticultural set. Read on to learn of his perilous trek in the mountains of China.

If you’re on the lookout for butterflies, one you can’t miss is the cabbage white. New Jersey’s most common butterfly is on the wing now, fluttering around the yard in search of nectar. Their caterpillars are the bane of plants in the Cruciferae family, including nasturtiums, mustard, radishes, turnips - and cabbage, of course.

House hunting has reached a frenzied pitch just now in a seller’s maarket. Besides household amenities there’s the ground itself to consider. Sandy and dry or wet and boggy? Good loam or flinty stuff? Wherever you land, there are adaptable plants.

Take a container, a bit of soil and some vivid plants and you’ve got a garden in miniature. Potted plants are just the thing to dress up your patio or deck for the season. Bring some adventure to your backyard with potted pleasures.

Peonies always remind me of the Mary Oliver poem of that title, which reads in part: ”..the flowers bend their bright bodies, and tip their fragrance to the air, and rise/their red stems holding all that dampness and recklessness
gladly and lightly/and there it is again — beauty the brave, the exemplary, blazing open.” Enjoy them!

It’s hummer time again with these spritely little birds now returned from points south to locations throughout all of New Jersey. We who lure them in have a ringside seat to some of nature’s most entertaining little characters. They’re here all day every day. How’s it going at your place?

Irises are just coming into bloom about now. Standing tall with ruffles and flourishes, they are among spring’s most spectacular flowers. Most are obliging subjects, long-lived and prone to multiplying in a satisfying fashion. If you have some, you’ll soon have more.

The season is moving rapidly forward and it’s time for the earliest perennials to take center stage. Among them are the lovely columbines, a perfect subject for lightly shaded spots in the garden. Bobbing and weaving in the breeze, they live up to their association with birds on the wing.

The heavenly scent of lilacs is about spice up spring’s gentle breezes if you’re lucky enough to have a well-developed plant. Pushed by the weird overheated days of late, mine are about to bloom some two weeks early. If your shrub isn’t loaded with flowers, you might want to try some persuasion.

With the daffodils nearing their end and the tulips half gone, I’m waiting for the next act in spring’s dramatic unfolding. Coming on stage soon are my bluebells or woodland hyacinths, not to be confused with florists’ hyacinths or Virginia bluebells, both different critters. Highly recommended!

Tulips are among my favorite cut flowers. As their stems elongate in the vase, they defy the floral arranger’s rigid designs and pursue their own idea of wayward charm. Florists should have a good supply by now so get yourself some and follow these tips.

April has arrived and with it, the heart-lifting spectacle of ornamental cherry trees in full bloom. The next 10-14 days are prime for cherry blossom viewing in New Jersey and the region - in person or virtually. Here’s your guide

Easter is about as early as it can be this year and with it comes an explosion of potted bulb flowers at every florist and garden center. The queen of the moment is the Easter lily with its luminous white trumpets. How this flower won the day is quite a story.

One of the stranger flowers of spring lurks in wet woodlands and along freshwater streams. The skunk cabbage has some unusual tricks up its sleeve for braving the chill. It looks like an alien lifeform — which is part of its charm.

Spring isn’t quite here yet but you can force the issue by bringing budded branches into the house, prompting them to bloom. This is cheap thrills since your can scour your yard for likely subjects. Fun and easy.

Did you know that gardening qualifies as bona fide exercise that can rival golfing, swimming and biking for burning calories? Still, when the mood comes over you, it’s easy to overdo. Here are some stats and some cautions.