To Carol with love: notes on a special daphne

I fell in love with Carol Mackie almost from the day she arrived here. True, she was nothing special to look at early on, but she always had a becoming daintiness.

New blooms, veggies and more debuting for 2013

Whoever believes there's nothing new under the sun hasn't seen the plants being introduced for the 2013 gardening season.

Continue spring clean-up

CROWN POINT | May garden tips from Wayne Gruber owner of Gardens on the Prairie in Lowell

Michelle Obama at book-signing: 'Buy away'

Michelle Obama on Tuesday returned to the business of selling her first book, and she started by telling scores of people waiting in line at a popular bookstore to "buy away" because Mother's Day is coming.

Ask a Designer: style in a small outdoor space

Design magazines and home decorating catalogs tend to feature sprawling backyards with big wooden decks and room for everything from decorative fountains to artificial ponds.

Gardeners grow and share

CROWN POINT | Lake County Purdue Master Gardeners gathered recently to celebrate countless hours volunteers spend helping others grow with gardening and landscaping. 

Garden walls can come alive with 'living pictures'

Looking for a fresh way to liven up your garden walls? Think plants, not paintings.

Erba stella is a plantain but not a weed

My friend Bob would shudder if he knew that I planted plantain today.

Military families invited to gardening workshop

LOWELL | Military personnel currently serving in any branch and component, as well as families of wounded or fallen service members, are invited to participate in a Military Family Gardening Workshop at 2 p.m. Saturday at Gardens on the Prairie, 3242 W. 169th Ave.

Learn water-saving tips at June garden walk in Crete

Sandy Klausman, Crete Woman's Club master gardener, consults with the 2013 garden walk committee on water wise gardening, the annual walk's timely theme.

Learn water-saving tips at June garden walk in Crete

CRETE | The Crete Woman's Club 23rd annual garden walk  “A Day in the Country” Water Wise Gardening to be held June 25, 26 and 27 will focus on water saving tips.

Babying her garden

Sue Magruder works Tuesday to transplant day lilies and other flora in her Valparaiso garden. "My rule of thumb of gardening is, you plant it, you baby it for 5 years, and then you start hacking it down," said Magruder, who has gardened for 48 years.

Babying her garden

Daffodils in front of Sue Magruder's home are nearly ready to bloom Tuesday as she works to transplant day lilies and other flora in her Valparaiso garden.

Babying her garden

Sue Magruder works Tuesday to transplant day lillies and other flora in her Valparaiso garden. "My rule of thumb of gardening is, you plant it, you baby it for five years, and then you start hacking it down," said Magruder, who has gardened for 48 years.

Water features, garden displays to inspire

CROWN POINT | Chainsaw carvings, wind twirlers, stone bird houses, and fire rock candles are just a few of the many new exhibits that guests will find at the 12th annual Waterscape Weekend Garden and Pond Expo, scheduled from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 27 and 28 in the Industrial Arts Building a…

It's All About Soil at Sunset Hill Farm

"Cooking with Herbs: 50 Simple Recipes for Fresh Flavor" by Lynn Alley

Author Lynn Alley has published a new handy 128-page hardcover book called "Cooking with Herbs: 50 Simple Recipes for Fresh Flavor" ( Andrews McMeel Publishing, $16.99).

New Products for Thursday, April 11, 2013

Growing in flavor

It's All About Soil at Sunset Hill Farm

Mary Walker, middle, shares information with other gardeners, including Zona Tenorio, of Valparaiso, during the Learn Grow Eat: All About Soil class Wednesday morning at Sunset Hill Farm County Park. Horticulturalist Matt Brown talked about different soil types, testing and how to create a g…

It's All About Soil at Sunset Hill Farm

Horticulturalist Matt Brown (left) works with gardeners Mary Walker, Zona Tenorio, Leonie Myrick, and Bonnie Sponberg, all of Valparaiso, and Donna Persin, of Westville, as he leads the class Learn Grow Eat: All About Soil at Sunset Hill Farm County Park in Valparaiso on Wednesday. Brown gav…