Andy Connolly
Morning glory is one of those magical plants that can transform a boring fence into a something far more interacting overnight. Well, not literally overnight – but these fast-growing vines sure make it feel that way! I planted some last spring and practically watched them climb before my eyes. But morning glories are actually pretty …
I’m going to be honest – I’ve made some big mistakes when growing columbines (Aquilegia) in my garden. In fact I’ve killed off a lot of them over the years, mainly due to planting them with the wrong neighbors. I had this silly assumption I could plant columbines anywhere and with anything. That approach led …
I’ve been growing astilbe for many years now. When I first started gardening I thought I could just plop these pretty shade lovers anywhere and watch them thrive. Yeah, that doesn’t work! My beautiful astilbe plants struggled when planted with the wrong neighbors & it took me years of trial and error to figure out …
When I first added camellias to my garden I had no idea how particular they could be about their neighbors. After numerous costly mistakes & failed companion plantings I’ve figured out what not to plant with camellias. I’m going to give you some pointers on how to get yours thriving by planting them with the …
I never thought something as innocent as periwinkle (Vinca minor) could cause so much garden drama. Years ago I added this pretty ground cover to a sloped area in my yard that needed stabilizing. It looked gorgeous with its glossy leaves and delicate purple flowers – until it started invading everything nearby. Since then I’ve …
When I first brought home a pink rhododendron from the garden center years ago, I had no idea about the drama I was about to create in my backyard. After planting it right next to my favorite hydrangeas and watching both plants struggle miserably for two seasons, I learned something: rhododendrons are really particular about …
When I first planted cosmos in my garden I was delighted by their wonderful colors & delicate foliage. But I quickly learned that these beautiful flowers aren’t always the friendliest neighbors. Despite their easy-going reputation cosmos have specific preferences about who they share their garden bed with. So I’ve compiled this guide to help you …
Over the years I’ve killed both clematis and lots of other plants alongside them. Through all those failures (and eventual successes), I’ve discovered that what you plant NEAR your clematis can make or break its performance. Some plants just don’t play nice with these spectacular climbers. It may be they’re competing for the same nutrients, …
I’ve been growing chrysanthemums for over a decade now, and they can be pretty particular about their neighbors they tolerate. I’ve killed more plants than I’d like to admit (and watching several prized mum varieties struggle) so have learned which plants make terrible companions for chrysanthemums the hard way. If you’re planning to add these …
I’ve been gardening for well, longer than I care to admit. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned the hard way, it’s that petunias can be downright finicky about their neighbors. One time I planted some gorgeous Wave petunias right next to my geraniums, thinking they’d make a beautiful color combination. Two weeks later my …