What plants, currently, are shining most brightly in your yard? In my own yard, the first blooms of garden phlox are telling me that summer has arrived. But my phlox display doesn't yet merit "star" status; that honor goes to roses and to the plants listed below. All my plant stars...

A lot of us have been having damp or humid summers and while a little water is great, too much dampness for too long can cause all kinds of problems. Even the seemingly carefree plants, like clematis, can start acting up. Problems that take hold in June really...

You may be able to identify poison ivy ("leaflets 3, let it be" -- simple, right?), but that doesn't mean you should let it grow unchecked in your yard, thinking, "Oh, as long as I know where it is, I'll just avoid it". I recommend safe poison ivy removal to...