If you spot a hummingbird in Pennsylvania, it’s likely to be a ruby-throated hummingbird. Incredibly small and quick, it’s the only breeding hummingbird species east of the Great Plains, according to the Pennsylvania Game Commission.  Despite the name, you’ll only catch a ruby-colored patch on the throat of the males – the females instead have…

Pennsylvania is home to thousands of beautiful plants that naturally thrive in our climate and are part of our diverse ecosystems. But these systems are taking on more pressure than ever and we can’t afford to take them for granted. Climate change and a proliferation of non-native invasive species are taking up space once claimed…

My 25-year-old daughter turns to me for answers to questions about cooking, gardening and decorating. I turn to her when I have questions about physics, mathematics and coding, which is hardly ever. (I’m not even sure where to begin.) I love nothing more than to give advice, though, so when she recently asked me what…

Many people say they just don’t have a green thumb when it comes to houseplants, but Liz Magnuson, the Wolff’s Apple House annuals manager, believes otherwise. She says it’s just a matter of finding the right houseplant for their personality and environment. She and everyone else at the Wolff’s Garden Center will be happy to match…

As Pennsylvania’s color palette shifts from bright summer greens and pastels to the rich reds, oranges, browns and yellows of fall, many gardeners take time to intentionally bring fall colors into their home gardens. When it comes to fall gardens, mums bring an instant pop of fall color. They also bring a few questions about…

Native plants — plants that grew here before European colonization — are a must-have for every gardener concerned with preserving biodiversity, beauty, and their own backs and pocketbooks. How is it that one group of plants can achieve so many worthy goals? Native plants want to grow here — so it’s less work to keep…

Follow these tips to keep your hanging baskets and planters healthy and blooming all season long! Is my light right? When you buy your basket, you’ll want to have an idea of where it’s going and how much light that area gets. We can help you find the right plant for the light you have!…

Does fall make you sigh with relief for the cooler temperatures? Do you feel more comfortable when it’s cool and breezy? But maybe you feel pretty glad that the ground is still warm beneath your feet? That’s basically how your perennials feel (well, except for the feet). But, just like you, perennials enjoy the cooler…

One especially worthwhile perk of investing energy in gardening is the freebies which sometimes reward you the next season. This can happen without much effort on your part thanks to seeds of certain flowers dispersing and finding their way into the soil. But did you know you can also make a conscious effort to save…

With the first day of summer starting this week, it’s the season of succulents. Nan Reinert’s background in operating Chubby Pickle Farm in Robeson Township, Berks County, means she is plenty versed in succulents. Through the farm, which is her backyard, she raises 85% of the food she eats, growing everything within a small space,…

What is the “prim” in primrose? Is it prim as in “prim and proper”? That is what I first thought, and I always imagined primroses as old fashioned women in flouncy gowns, sipping tea from delicate tea cups, with their pinky fingers crooked.                         But these perky flowers are…