What do you do with all the zucchini ripening in your garden? That’s a good question for backyard gardeners every summer. So the editors at Home, Garden and Homestead are on a quest to find the greatest, tastiest, and easiest recipes that use those delectable green zucchini squash that keep coming and coming. Zucchini is a popular backyard vegetable for many reasons. It’s easy to grow—even for beginners. Most insect pests (except maybe squash bugs) leave the hardy plants alone. And once the plants get into full production mode, the dark green fruits grow quickly and prolifically. That’s why you have to be ready with some go-to recipes to put all the zucchini from your garden to good use. Here’s the first zucchini recipe in a continuing series. This hearty zucchini and pasta dinner has been a favorite in my family for years. Italian Zucchini Pasta Ingredients 4-5 fresh zucchini, sliced 1 can (15 ounces) stewed or diced tomatoes 1-2 fresh tomatoes, diced 1 pound, sweet Italian … [Read more...] about Great Summer Zucchini Recipes (Part 1)
Best new roses for your garden
Rose bushes are the queens of the garden. As garden royalty, roses have a knack for making themselves the center of attention. Sometimes all it takes is a single rose at the peak of bloom to draw our gaze. Because of their size, rose bushes stand out above lawns, groundcovers and flower beds. Roses come in a stunning variety of colors, shapes and sizes, and every year new varieties arrive to steal the show. A delightful selection of new rose varieties is now available. Here are some can’t miss new varieties of roses selected by the editors of Home, Garden and Homestead. A beautiful rose to celebrate Park Seed’s 150th anniversary In honor of the 150th anniversary of Park Seed-- one of the most respected gardening companies in America, Jackson & Perkins has introduced a new floribunda rose called ‘La Park’ Floribunda. Back in 1868 in the small town of La Park, Pennsylvania, a 15-year-old named George W. Park founded a company to sell the seeds he had harvested from his … [Read more...] about Best new roses for your garden
Flowers and flowering plants add color to gardens
Want to add color to gardens? Plant flowers! There are hundreds of varieties of flowering plants that can add color to gardens. These colorful plants are available from websites, mailorder catalogs and local garden centers. In addition to the old favorites, there are always new varieties of flowering perennials, annuals and shrubs that practically demand a spot in your yard and garden. These beauties will thrive in a variety of growing conditions, and they will bring color and delight to your garden. If you want to get even more adventurous, add cold-hardy tropical plants to your garden, too! Lupine Gladiator is a real show-off in the garden Some plants are complete show-offs in the garden. But that can be a really good thing when you’re looking for a focal point in a perennial bed. Attention-getting flowering plants are a great way to add color to gardens. They are guaranteed to brighten-up a dull place in the landscape. Lupine Westcountry™ ‘Gladiator’ is one of those … [Read more...] about Flowers and flowering plants add color to gardens
New varieties of vegetable seeds for your garden
Every year, seed catalogs and websites strive to introduce new vegetable seeds that put a fresh spin on garden favorites. Sometimes these new varieties offer bigger harvests and better hardiness. Sometimes the appeal is a different color or a new variety designed especially for container growing. The new vegetable varieties presented here are sure to be among this year’s popular favorites. So, gardeners, get your garden plots ready for something new—and delicious! A tomato to honor a 150-year legacy in vegetable seeds New for 2018 is Park’s Legacy Hybrid Tomato, which was named to honor Park Seed’s legacy of 150 years as a seed company. (The Park Seed Company was founded in 1868 by 15-year-old George Park, who started selling the vegetable seeds he had harvested from his own backyard garden.) Bursting with true vine-ripened flavor, this new tomato variety is a fitting tribute to a seed company that has thrived for a century and a half. Park’s Legacy Hybrid Tomato produces firm, … [Read more...] about New varieties of vegetable seeds for your garden
Four fabulous flowering container plants
When it comes to flowering container plants, Byron and Laurelynn Martin, the third-generation owners of Logee’s Greenhouses, are the go-to experts. Byron grew up working at Logee’s in Danielson, Connecticut (about halfway between Hartford, CT and Providence, RI), and Byron and Laurelynn have been on TV with Martha Stewart to talk about plants. “One of the questions I get asked the most is, ‘What are the best flowering plants for growing in containers?’” said Byron Martin. “Container gardening continues to grow in popularity. That's because people want to be close to blooming plants—in their homes, on their decks and on their balconies and patios.” Here are four of Byron Martin’s favorite flowering container plants to grow in containers. Brugmansia ‘Angel’s Summer Dream’ Commonly known as Angels Trumpets, Brugmansia hybrids are favorite tropical flowering plants because of the long, trumpet-shaped flowers that hang gracefully from the plant during the summer. … [Read more...] about Four fabulous flowering container plants
