Q: Please don’t think I’m totally crazy, but I couldn’t get anyone around here to answer this question and I thought someone at Purdue could. I have two trees in my backyard that are growing branches that are completely different from the rest of the trees. It is NOT another tree coming up under them,… Continue reading.

BY TIMOTHY J. GIBB It is tick talk time. When I say “tick talk,” I am not referring to a timekeeping device, such as a watch or a clock. I am simply pointing out it is the best time to discuss ticks and their potential danger. Most people have had the disagreeable experience of finding… Continue reading.

BY B. ROSIE LERNER We can be so difficult to please. When plants flower when we want them to flower, we call it “blooming.” But when plants flower when we don’t want them to, we call it “bolting.” Flowering is an undesirable trait when growing rhubarb; therefore, bolting describes the event. Gardeners frequently ask why… Continue reading.

By B. Rosie Lerner Q: I’m having an argument with my wife about a plant in our yard, and we hope you can help arbitrate. I’ve sent a photo of a plant that we found growing near some shrubs. Neither of us remember planting it. My wife thinks it’s pretty ground cover and that we… Continue reading.

A growing concern for years, especially for those in the world of agriculture, has been the marked decline of bee populations necessary for pollination of plants and crops. That concern was dialed upward last year with the addition of the rusty patch bumblebee to the list of endangered species. It is the first bee to… Continue reading.

Winter is the worst time of year for indoor air quality. House plants do more than simply make your home look better. These plants can help make your home healthier and better for you to live in by improving the air quality. Dracaena is a long striped plant that can easily thrive in your home… Continue reading.

Q: I had potato bugs really bad this year. I picked them off every few days, but they just came back. I tried Sevin, but the rain just washed it off. What can I do about potato bugs? — S. Newland, Columbus, IN  A: There are a number of insecticides labeled for control of Colorado… Continue reading.

By B. Rosie Lerner Q: I sent in a mystery plant question that was featured in your column in the July 2017 issue. The plant was not doing well then but has finally begun flourishing. I have identified it to be a portulaca molokiniensis. I have found various sites that all give different descriptions on… Continue reading.

By B. Rosie Lerner People often select plants first for their beauty and second for their functionality in the garden. Frequently, we don’t know or don’t consider a plant’s behavior when we’re selecting them. Almost by definition, a species that is an effective ground cover will have a spreading habit. But does that make the… Continue reading.

By B. Rosie Lerner If you’ve ever had to work on a tree leaf collection, no doubt you included a leaf from Indiana’s state tree. Also known as tulip poplar and yellow poplar, the tuliptree is actually not a poplar at all. It is a member of the magnolia family known botanically as Liriodendron tulipifera…. Continue reading.

By B. Rosie Lerner Most gardeners would agree that tomatoes are the most popular crop for home growing. But what gardeners can’t agree on is what tomato is considered “the best,” since taste is such a personal matter. The diversity of cultivars available makes it easy for anyone to grow tomatoes — even if all… Continue reading.

By B. Rosie Lerner To admire a peony in full bloom is a fitting way to celebrate our full arrival into spring. Although it is native to Asia, the peony has become a staple of Midwestern flower gardens — so much so that the Indiana Legislature in 1957 adopted the peony as the state flower…. Continue reading.