Question from Crissy: Hi, I have questions about growing a peace lily, which I’m keeping for the first time. Someone has delivered theirs to me, and the plant is quite big, though I’m keeping it indoors. Would it be OK to just cut off some of the stems with scissors as some are sticking out […]

Question from Lisa: I bought a Vine Lilac from Costco maybe 6 months ago (January) and it’s never been the same. I hear they flourish in winter, but I know it hasn’t been happy ever since I brought it home. How can I tell if the soil has too much nitrogen? My neighbor is having […]

Question from Charlie: Years ago I bought a grey-leafed scabiosa – has the typical pincushion flower. I want to find the technical name – I think it may be scabiosa varitoma but can’t confirm using the internet. Do you have any ideas? It grows in a ball shape and can get over a foot tall […]

Question from Joanne: Help! People give me Phalaenopsis orchids. I love them of course and put them in the brightest spot in my dark house where I can enjoy them, but I have tried everything to get them to come back into bloom. I feed them and care for them and feel stupid but they […]

Question from Marilyn: I read with interest your reply to the gardener with a question regarding African Iris/Fortnight Lilies. I have already dug up many of my clumps (today)and clipped the leaves to about 6″ above the roots. I am now wondering how long they will take to create new growth and if they will […]

Question from Rebecca: First of all, I LOVE your month-by-month gardening book–it is the most helpful gardening book in my collection! Secondly, while cosmos from seed do fine for me, I have had trouble getting them to flourish from six packs. I’ve tried the ones from six packs twice, and they usually stay about the […]