One of the best features of gaura plants is the long bloom time, much longer than most perennials. The heaviest blooming occurs in early summer, but you can expect flushes of flowers to recur throughout the summer and into fall in USDA growing zones 5 through 9. They are best planted in the spring or fall. Gaura foliage is lance-shaped and often tinged with pink, cream, or gold, depending on the variety....

Normally purchased as a small potted plant, ghost plant is usually planted in spring when being grown outdoors. Like many succulents, it is a slow grower (a few inches per year) and can live for decades. Light Ghost plants will be at their most handsome in full sun or partial sun. Plants that don’t receive enough light will become leggy and might experience leaf drop. When grown as a houseplant, keep the ghost plant in a south or east-facing window....

The female catkins have longer green catkins. These flowering branches, among the first that appear in spring, are often harvested for decorative use. S. caprea is one of two species commonly known as pussy willow, and it is easily confused with the native North American species, Salix discolor. Goat willow is extremely easy to grow and tolerant of heavy pruning, and it is extremely attractive to many species of butterflies and bees....

Hardy mums, on the other hand, are highly valued in landscaping because they bloom primarily in the fall, helping you to achieve four-season interest in your landscape. They come in a wide array of colors as well as different flower forms and growth habits. While they are legitimate perennials in moderate climates, hardiness in northern regions is not guaranteed, so hardy mums are often treated as annuals, planted in early fall as potted nursery plants that are already in bloom....

Hellebores are very easy to grow in shady conditions where most plants struggle, provided they have some shelter from harsh winter winds and receive sunlight in the winter. The only real maintenance the plants require is a little cleanup of the dried leaves. If foliage is winter-worn, it can be cut back to basal growth in the late winter to early spring before flowering. Light Hellebores prefer partial to full shade during the summer months but require more sunlight in winter....

The mature height of a jack pine tree varies, based on environmental factors. If growing conditions are less than ideal and sun is limited, then these trees will stay more shrubby. They often feature a twisted growth pattern and have been known to grow somewhat sideways. With full sun and a good loam soil, they can grow between 30 and 70 feet tall. The somewhat patchy canopy of a jack pine tree means that they allow for shade-tolerant plants to grow beneath their branches....

Lavatera plants are cousins to the hollyhock and like those plants, they are relatively easy to grow— especially if you live somewhere that is not prone to excessively hot and humid summers. Because lavatera are fast growers, they are a good choice as a space filler or as a centerpiece to surround with shorter, less showy options. Shrub-type lavatera has a mounding but rather irregular growth habit, which can serve as a screen or as the backdrop in a flower bed....

Lisianthus is in great demand for bridal bouquets and other special-occasion arrangements. Lisianthus colors commonly come in white, pink, purple, and cream, but you may occasionally see yellow, apricot, rose, or red. The flower’s foliage is dark green, lance-shaped, and slightly fleshy in texture. When used as an annual garden flower, lisianthus planted from seeds grows slowly, reaching flowering maturity in five to six months. Most gardeners plant them from commercial nursery plants that were started from seed in greenhouses the previous fall, so they will erupt in fluttery, layered blooms by spring....

Snail vine plants can be propagated through cuttings or seeds and should be overwintered indoors. It is highly pest and disease-resistant but can develop yellow or brown leaves if undernourished or overexposed to sunlight. Light Snail vine plants grow well in full or partial sun. However, full sun in a warm growing zone might dehydrate, so pay attention to potential wilting or drying. If you’re perennializing your snail vine, choose a spot that gets between three and four hours of direct sun, preferably in the morning....

With its spreading rhizomatous roots and clump-forming habit, switchgrass is ideal for use in sloped areas prone to erosion. Not as prolific as some ornamental grass varieties, if the conditions are optimal, it can still spread rapidly. Care should be taken when using it in small garden spaces. Light Switchgrass prefers a full sun position. This will ensure vigorous growth, tall and upright stalks, and the most interesting color. It can handle part shade but be prepared for the stalks to droop and the clumps to be less tightly formed....

Oriental cultivars like the ‘Casa Blanca’ thrive in cooler regions, can tolerate poorer soil conditions, and have larger flowers atop exceptionally tall stems that grow three to four feet tall. Each stem produces six to eight blooms. Each “Casa Blanca’ flower has six gleaming white petals with reddish-brown anthers. As it blooms, every large eight-inch broad petal curls outwards, beaming beautifully in the summer sun. Very fragrant on strong, dark green stems, they make exceptional fresh cut flowers often used by florists and in bridal bouquets....

Keep the soil well-watered until they flower. Little additional care is needed, though they will appreciate a monthly feeding until midsummer. The foliage does not need to be trimmed back until late fall garden cleanup begins. These plants are largely free of the pest and disease issues that affect other bulbs, though excessively wet soil in the winter sometimes causes bulb rot. While each individual flower only lasts one day, like a daylily, the multiple stems produce additional blooms for several weeks....

Even without bearing fruit, these fast-growing, evergreen trees are ornamentally attractive with their glossy leaves and tubular red flowers. But, of course, it’s the fruit that these trees are known for. The red, thick, leathery, inedible rind protects an abundance of sweet, juicy seeds that are packed with beneficial nutrients. Outdoors, pomegranate trees typically grow to reach around 12 to 16 feet, although they can sometimes grow as tall as 30 feet....

Herman Miller makes the original Eames lounge chair and ottoman in a variety of leather colors with coordinating woods for the shell. Vitra, a Swiss maker of modern-style furniture, was authorized to produce the furniture using the original Eames specifications to distribute overseas. However, there are plenty of replicas (detailed copies) and reproductions (close copies) on the market. If you’d like to know how to tell if your Herman Miller chair is real and how to spot an authentic Eames chair from a replica or reproduction, learn to look for telling details....

Duck Identification Equipment To properly identify ducks, you must be properly equipped. Optics: Strong birding binoculars are necessary to help pinpoint the subtle details in plumage and body shape that can distinguish one duck species from another. Choose binoculars that have anti-glare coatings and waterproof features to keep them protected against the elements and to help the images be as clear as possible. A spotting scope can also be useful if you plan to look for ducks on large bodies of water....