Mickey Gast

How late is it too late to write a geranium fall care guide? Usually, if a care guide comes late in the season, it’s because I procrastinate a great deal. …

Planting tulip bulbs is one of those garden jobs that I would rather skip. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love having tulips blooming all over my garden in spring. …

I often feel the need to defend growing annuals whenever the topic comes up in conversation. Most of the ornamentals in my garden are perennial, but there are always some …

You’d think that by this time in the year, I’ve already exhausted the most common methods of plant propagation. I’ve already written guides about propagating by seed starting, taking cuttings …

Mistakes in gardening are like aphids. They may ruin your day temporarily, but as long as you aren’t bothered too much, the problem will solve itself. I’ve come to accept …

I sometimes worry when I notice that the articles in which I confess some of my gardening mistakes are more popular than the ones in which I explain how to …

If I had to choose the gardening philosophy closest to my lazy gardener’s heart, it would have to be “live and let live.” Or rather “live and let die … …

As summer is winding down, I’m once again thinking about container gardening. With a steady supply of flowers, berries, herbs and tomatoes throughout the summer months, I must admit I …

As I’m writing this in late August, I’m looking at a forest of bamboo in front of me. No, I haven’t gone overboard and planted a bamboo patch in my …

I have a confession to make. I’ve been procrastinating on working on my very small front garden for the past three summers.  Here is what my shallow garden looks like.  …

It is possible that, at some point during the growing year, I talk about my clematis plants more than I do about my cats. I will definitely write more about …

I don’t have room for more rhododendrons in my garden. There! I’ve said it!  Yet, I find myself taking rhododendron cuttings this August, just to have some backups. My usual …

In my mind, I’ve always associated hollyhocks with summer holidays at the beach. Even this year, my beach vacation was punctuated with oooh-ing! and aaaah-ing! over the majestic hollyhock torches …

I walk outside into my garden, in the dappled light that’s still lingering past 10 PM. It’s a few days past midsummer; my work day is long over, but the …

The path going past my rhododendrons is looking extra worn out, and I’m the reason why. You see, I was pacing back and forth for a month in anticipation of …

The only reaction I seem to be capable of whenever I see lupines in a garden is to stop and stare. Some people call that admiration, others might call it …

I was standing in the middle aisle of my local garden center holding a tray full of plants. After having spent the better part of fifteen minutes perusing the hanging …

I like big boastful plants. A quick perusal of my article portfolio on this website will show that whenever I write a single-plant article, it tends to be centered around …

Do you have any little free libraries in your community where you can take a book for free or leave a book for your neighbors to take home?  Imagine the …

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a gardener in possession of a balcony must be in need of a container arrangement. Or at least this has been my truth …

My first foray into planting gladioli took place exactly ten years ago, to the month. On a whim, I picked up a bag of gladioli bulbs while I was “foraging” …

As an introverted writer, I’m really fun at parties. As soon as new acquaintances find out that plants and gardening are how I spend my work days as well as …

After a flurry of starting seeds, transplanting perennials and planting summer bulbs, I’m now turning my attention to creating a couple of container displays.  The last of the spring bulbs …

Bloom bloom bloom, now let me hear you say way-ooh! I debated on whether or not that should be the intro to my article; but there’s something about the blanket …