When stormwater runoff plagued a family’s home, they plunged into a whimsical, colorful makeover. Local artists, landscapers, and sculptors united to reframe a beige, boxy house into a gregarious octopus and elegant mermaid overlooking tumbling streams framed by native plants.

Go underground for the key to beautiful gardens and happy plants. Soil health specialist Andie Marsh explores basic principles that apply to any garden.

How Aphids Keep Ladybugs Around

Ladybugs, hoverflies, and green lacewings hurry over to our gardens to feed on aphids—as long as we don’t wipe out their food pantry. Entomologist Wizzie Brown explains how to keep a healthy prey-to-predator balance and a non-chemical way to manage aphids if they’re out of control. Check out Wizzie’s fantastic podcast Bugs by the Yard! 

It all started as a way to save a few bucks. Quickly, Amber de la Rosa’s plant swaps among friends grew into Central Texas Plant People, bringing together all kinds of gardeners from around the region. Amber shows how to propagate plants from stem cuttings.