The snow has yet to melt where I live and, now that the first day of spring has come and gone, I expect to see snow for at least another week. I am itching for some spring greenery. With the holiday weekend ahead, I've decided to forget spring greens outside and will create them inside instead. 

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When I moved into my first apartment, I planted veggies in the two front window boxes. But I did it pretty willy-nilly, without any research, and some of those poor plants just didn't flourish. If you're thinking of doing the same, please check this out first for some ideas of which plants do best in shallow soils:

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I'm a little late to the game of getting my spring seed orders in (if you hurry there is still time) and as usual I am trying to grow things that I either can't find in the grocery store or that I think will surprise and excite visitors to my kids' farmers market stand.  James Wong is providing excellent inspiration in my hunt. 

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New England may currently be covered in more snow, but this lousy March weather can't stop me from fantasizing about April and May flowers. Lately, I've been drawn to window boxes, especially when they aren't your average perennials, or your average containers. When planning your plants, here are 5 inspirational ways to think outside the (window) box.

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After a long, dry winter, trapped inside with the windows closed, houseplants are ready for a little pampering so they can look and feel their best in the coming spring. Come to think of it, I could use a spa day myself...

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Recent college graduates, Clayton & Chaz, were tight on money, but large on outdoor space. By using 95% recycled materials and a lot of sweat equity, they were able to transform their backyard from ho-hum, to shabby chic — with a budget of only $210! More

When we start talking about outdoors and all the fun things to make, build or plant, there is always one project that immediately comes to my mind: cinder block planters. They've been on my DIY must do list for years now and maybe this year — this year will really be the year! More

When I visit my mom she puts me to work 'dead-heading' her lavender. As I trim away the dead blossoms the smell of lavender surrounds me and attracts quite a few bees. It reminds me how important scent is in a garden and what an integral experience it is to losing yourself in the outdoors. In a small space like a balcony or small deck, using plants that give off a scent can make the experience that much richer. Here are 5 of my favorite fragrant plants perfect for a small space…
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Tim and D'arcy's backyard makeover is a great example to keep in the back of your mind when buying a house without landscaping. It is a case of turning "nothing into something" illustrating looking beyond what's there and the potential of an outdoor space... More

As a garden designer I frequently see newer gardeners make plant choices that I shake my head at. With experience comes the knowledge that some of the basic choices presented by nurseries and big box stores are not only uninteresting, but often not really the best choice for other reasons, too. Disease resistance, hardiness, or how easy the plants are to grow are often factors that seem to be disregarded in the choices. Many times the reason those plants are there is because they fill our collective memory; we all think we know something about them and have a sentimentality that drives us to buy. More