Outdoors

Modern varieties of blackberries are disease free, produce fruit in summer and fall and some have thornless canes.

Different tomato varieties will need different types of support. Consider stakes, trellises, cages or an A-frame set-up. You may even use a combination of supports to protect your plants.

Blue hydrangeas can flower sporadically, get big and unruly, and can be confusing to prune. But there are options beyond the traditional 'Endless Summer' lines and 'Nikko Blue' varieties.

Delphiniums are stunning flowers. But, they're known as short-lived perennials no matter how much care you give them.

It's hard to think about mid summer vegetables when it's still cold outside, but if you want to try some unusual eggplant varieties in your garden this year, now is the time to start seeds indoors.

Skip the green-dyed carnations and seek out truly Irish plants like Irish moss and fairy thimbles (also called foxgloves).

Newer varieties of forsythia are shorter, with a more tame growth habit than the sprawling shrub you might be more familiar with, and they have flower buds that are winter hardy.

When you plan ahead, you can be strategic about incorporating plants into your garden that are mutually beneficial by sharing nutrients or warding off pests.

February is way too early to plant a garden in Connecticut. But, you can always work on your garden design. Here are my tips for designing a simple garden to get you started.

The best fragrant varieties of sweet peas have sensuous names and a vase of these varieties as cut flowers will perfume the whole house.