Hello, April! Spring is officially in full swing—and so is the to-do list. Whether you're planting, pruning, or just trying to keep up, this month's newsletter has a little something to help (and hopefully inspire) along the way.
Since April is National Gardening Month, it’s the perfect time to celebrate the joy of growing—whether that means adding a new shrub, tackling a long-overdue project, or simply soaking up the season. We’ve got ideas for year-round color, quick pruning tips, a dreamy hydrangea garden tour, and one fiery-red plant that’s perfect for warm zones. Plus, a helpful reminder that you don’t have to do it all right now—promise.
Year-Round Color with Flowering Shrubs
Want non-stop garden color? With a little planning, your garden can be filled with color in every season with flowering shrubs like quince, rose of Sharon, summersweet, potentilla, and weigela (all pictured). Check out the full guide for bloom times, mature sizes, and light requirements to keep your landscape colorful all year long.
Want to dig deeper on designing a year-round garden?
Join us in May for a live webinar all about creating a garden that looks great in every season. Get the details here.
From Dream to Reality: A Storybook Hydrangea Garden
Step into Skye Hamilton's enchanting Idaho garden, where childhood dreams of storybook gardens have bloomed into reality. What began with 16 Incrediball® hydrangeas around her farmhouse porch has flourished into a passion project that's captured the hearts of over 200,000 Instagram followers. Discover how this self-taught "Hydrangea Queen" transformed her property into a picture-perfect paradise, and get her top six tips for hydrangea success in your own garden.
5 Quick Tips for Pruning Flowering Shrubs
Gardening expert Susan Martin shares 5 quick tips that simplify pruning, showing you it's not as daunting as it may seem. Learn when and how to prune your flowering shrubs for the best blooms, with special tips for tricky hydrangeas. And remember, pruning doesn't have to be perfect—your plants are pretty forgiving! Pictured: Yuki Cherry Blossom® deutzia from Proven Winners.
Two Days—Endless Garden Ideas.
Hands-on design lessons in a private Napa, CA garden
Step into Freeland and Sabrina Tanner’s private Napa garden for a two-day, hands-on design experience with host Rebecca Sweet. You’ll explore real garden spaces, see design principles in action, and leave with practical inspiration for your own landscape.
See the itinerary, get more info, and reserve your spot today!
Available Dates:
May 8-9 & June 5-6
There’s nothing like seeing it for yourself...take a look at this short video to get a feel for the garden, the design sessions, and the overall experience.
Celebrate National Gardening Month:
Share Your Garden's Story!
What better way to celebrate National Gardening Month than by showcasing your personal garden journey? Whether it's a tiny balcony oasis or a sprawling landscape, send us your garden's story along with photos that capture its personality. Did you transform a barren yard into a pollinator paradise? Turn a challenging slope into a stunning rock garden? Or create an edible landscape that feeds both body and soul? Your gardening journey could inspire other readers and connect you with fellow plant lovers. Submit your garden's story and join our celebration!
See what other readers have shared with us here.
New Plant of the Week:
Estrellita® Scarlet Firecracker Bush
If you're gardening in Zones 8 and up, you're in for a treat. Estrellita Scarlet™ firecracker bush (Bouvardia) brings an electric pop of true red to the garden—so vibrant it almost looks unreal. Bouvardia is native to the Southwest and Mexico, and this compact shrub is a magnet for hummingbirds, blooming steadily through the heat of summer. It’s fast-growing, heat and drought tolerant, and right at home in warm-climate landscapes.
Cooler zone gardeners? Don’t worry—it's compact size means you can still enjoy the fireworks in containers all summer long!
Feeling a little overwhelmed by spring already? You're not alone! Between the excitement of new plants and the pressure to “get it all done,” it’s easy to feel like you’re falling behind before the season really gets going. Our friend, landscape designer Karen Chapman, shares a practical and encouraging reminder that we don’t have to do everything at once—and that gardening should feel joyful, not stressful—in her article, Solutions for Spring Overwhelm.
Happy (stress-free) Gardening!
—Linda
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