ArcaMax

My birthday is coming up, and I was asked what my favorite plant is.

My favorite plants have to meet a few important criteria. They must come back on their own, because I can be a lazy gardener. Insects and diseases must be rare, so there will be no need to spray. I like plants that can grow in the water along the shoreline of my water garden, ...Read more

Years ago I had the opportunity to visit gardens in Victoria, Vancouver, and scenic towns like Leavenworth, Washington, and was mesmerized by their hanging baskets and mixed containers. If you’ve been there, you probably have had the same dreams as The Garden Guy. And the past two years have opened my eyes to new possibilities, thanks to the ...Read more

For the past two weeks, I have been writing about the All-America Selections winners. The AAS program trials the plants at test gardens all over the country, and judges rate the plants all during the growing season. The Green Thumb Awards program winners have been announced, so let us talk about them today.

Winners of the 2025 Green Thumb ...Read more

SAN DIEGO -- When Kelicia Pitts moved here from New Jersey in 2021, she figured it wouldn’t be too hard to find work and housing. Give me two months, she thought to herself, as she rented an Airbnb in Del Cerro.

But finding a job that could pay San Diego’s high rents was easier said than done, and after bouncing around, she soon found ...Read more

Now that Christmas and New Years is over it is time to have a little talk about the North Pole. No, I am not referring to the home place of St. Nick, but North Pole arborvitae, Proven Winners Landscape Shrub of the Year for 2025.

While indeed it may correctly be classified as a shrub, many of you may think of it as a tree. North Pole arborvitae...Read more

Last week, we looked at the flowers that won the 2025 All-America Selections awards, and this week, we look at the five new vegetable winners.

The AAS testing program is an independent nonprofit organization that tests new plants. They have about 80 test gardens from Alaska and Canada to California and Florida. They also have almost 200 display...Read more

The blushing bride and her eye-catching straps put on quite the show last year. It’s so true, and I can imagine editors everywhere having palpitations as The Garden Guy goes rogue with seductive humor. Now that I have your attention, I am talking about Heart to Heart, Blushing Bride, Proven Winners "Caladium of the Year" for 2025. It is a ...Read more

One way I know a plant could work well in my garden is that I look for the red, white and blue logo of All-America Selections on seed packets, on bedding plant tags or in catalogs. Even AAS winners from several years ago are more likely to prove successful than nonwinners.

The AAS testing program is an independent nonprofit organization that ...Read more