Posts By

Dr. Liessa Bowen

Liessa started learning everything she could about plants, animals, and ecosystems at a young age. Since then, she's earned a Master’s degree in wildlife biology (Iowa State University) and a PhD in forestry (North Carolina State University), both with an emphasis on conservation biology and birds. She has worked as a greenhouse technician, wildlife biologist, educational consultant, and writer.

The pawpaw tree features large, drooping, oblong leaves and clusters of greenish-yellow, mango-like fruits that turn soft when ripe.

Trees

How to Plant, Grow, and Care For Pawpaw Trees

Are you curious about these small native trees and their sweet, custardy fruits? If you’ve never seen or tasted a pawpaw, you’re in for a treat. In this article, native plant expert Liessa Bowen introduces the pawpaw tree and all the basics you’ll need to know so you can grow your own!

Pearl Glam features delicate blush bloom clusters before developing vibrant purple berries

Shrubs

How to Plant, Grow, and Care For ‘Pearl Glam’ Beautyberry

Have you seen the alluring Pearl Glam® beautyberry for sale? This colorful, compact shrub has showy foliage, flowers, and fruits, making it a true rock star for your landscape. In this article, gardening expert Liessa Bowen introduces Peal Glam and everything you’ll need to know to grow your own.

The bush showcases clusters of round, deep blue berries nestled among glossy green leaves with hints of red along the edges.

Fruits

13 Berry Bushes You Can Plant in November

Cooler weather is here but that doesn’t mean gardening season is over. Fall is the perfect time for planting shrubs and if you’re looking for a shrub, why not consider one that produces edible fruits? Join gardening expert Liessa Bowen for an introductory tour of 13 different bushes with tiny but tasty fruits!

A shot of a garden using methods to protect crops frost

Gardening Tips

9 Smart Ways to Protect Your Tender Crops From Frost

Cooler weather is here, you’ve seen a frost warning, but you have tender annual herbs and vegetables in your garden. How can you protect them from the first few frosts? Gardening expert Liessa Bowen walks through 9 smart tips to help you protect your frost-sensitive crops from the next freeze.

Close-up of a woman's hands harvesting persimmons from a tree laden with rounded fruits featuring bright orange skin, surrounded by lush green leaves.

Fruits

The Ideal Time to Harvest Persimmons: 5 Expert Tips

Do you have a persimmon tree in your yard but aren’t quite sure when to harvest those bright orange fruits? These hardy trees are extremely productive and provide an abundance of tasty fruits for your snacking pleasure. Join gardening enthusiast Liessa Bowen on a persimmon-picking expedition and learn some tips on how and when to harvest these delicious fruits.

This Pomegranate fruit tree features glossy, narrow green leaves and large, round fruits with thick, reddish skin and a crown-like calyx on top.

Fruits

11 Fruit Tree Varieties You Can Plant in November

Fall is the perfect time for planting. You don’t need an entire orchard to enjoy harvesting your own fruits. If you have space for a single tree, or possibly two, check out the following 11 fruit-producing trees and shrubs to enhance your landscape and reward you with deliciously tasty treats.

An outdoor scene with multiple rectangular elevated structures covered by thin plastic sheets. Snow blankets the surfaces and the ground around the structures. In the background, a few bare trees and some buildings can be seen.

Gardening Inspiration

How to Prepare Raised Beds for Winter

Fall is here and winter is on the way. What should you do with your raised beds to get them ready for the cold? Whether you’re a four-season gardener or getting ready to go dormant for the winter, year-round gardener Liessa Bowen offers 11 practical tips to help you prepare your raised garden beds for the upcoming cold.

Large, heart-shaped leaves with dark green hues and lighter edges, growing in a dense, full clump with smooth, glossy surfaces and prominent veins.

Ornamental Gardens

Fall Hosta Care: 5 Expert Tips

By the time mid-fall rolls around, your hosta plants probably look worn and ragged. Now is the perfect time to give them some extra care and prepare them for winter and the new year ahead. Join gardening enthusiast Liessa Bowen for some simple pro tips on end-of-year hosta care.