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 Mealycup Sage plant boasts vibrant purple tubular flowers that resemble lavender look-alikes, blooming in dense clusters on sturdy stems, with lance-shaped green leaves that have a slightly fuzzy texture.

Ornamental Gardens

21 Lavender Look-Alikes for Your Landscape

Do you love the look of lavender? If you find lavender’s compact size and dainty purple flowers appealing, you may be interested in some other plants with similar characteristics that offer more diversity for your landscape. In this article, gardening expert Liessa Bowen takes a closer look at 21 lavender-like plants, each with its own unique appeal, that you can grow in more varied garden settings.

The Foxglove plant features tall spikes adorned with tubular, bell-shaped flowers in shades of pink, purple, and white, while its large, lance-shaped leaves form a rosette at the base.

Flowers

19 Beautiful Foxglove Varieties to Plant This Year

Are you intrigued by the beauty of foxglove flowers? These bright and bold flowers can add a unique charm to your garden, but be aware that not all foxgloves are good additions to every landscape. In this article, gardening expert Liessa Bowen introduces 19 beautiful varieties of foxglove and the benefits or drawbacks of each.

A close-up view of delicate purple flowers with soft, feathery petals surrounded by vibrant green leaves in a natural setting.

Flowers

How to Plant, Grow, and Care For Blue Mistflower

Are you looking for a late-season blooming wildflower to brighten up your landscape? The blue mistflower blooms in late summer and early fall with soft pastel purples and blues. In this article, flower-gardening enthusiast Liessa Bowen introduces the blue mistflower and how you can successfully grow your own!

Close-up of a little girl in bright yellow overalls and a white hat with colorful hearts digging soil in a raised garden bed with growing strawberry plants.

Gardening Inspiration

17 Easy Garden Projects You Can Do With Your Kids

Are you looking for some fun and easy garden projects to do with your kids? Enjoy quality time outdoors with some hands-on gardening tasks, or try some garden-themed indoor activities on rainy days. Get ready to get a little messy and enjoy some quality time with these 17 creative plant-themed projects that kids will love!

Spinach growing in red and white containers features vibrant green, tender leaves with a smooth texture and a slightly crinkled edge, supported by sturdy, slender stems that grow upright and are often densely packed.

Vegetables

9 Tips to Grow Spinach In Containers For Year Round Harvests

Do you love using fresh, crisp, green spinach in your kitchen creations? Did you know you can grow your own spinach in containers and harvest it throughout the entire year? In this article, gardening expert Liessa Bowen shares 9 handy tips you can use for a continual harvest of container-grown spinach.

Close-up of Glandularia canadensis, commonly known as rosea verbena. The image features clusters of small, vibrant pink flowers with delicate, tubular petals. The blooms are densely packed, creating a lush, colorful display.

Ornamental Gardens

31 Native Plants That Bloom in Late Summer

It’s a joy to walk into your garden during any part of the growing season to enjoy fresh, vibrant flowers. But what can you do if your spring and summer flowers are past their prime and your flower garden starts looking ragged? If your garden has a few gaps by late summer, this list of 31 spectacular late-season flowering natives will help you bridge the gap between the peak of summer and fall.

Mushrooms forming a circle, growing in the backyard, under some shade created by trees.

Gardening Tips

What Are Fairy Rings, and What Do They Mean For Your Garden?

Have you ever walked outside one day shortly after a rain and seen a large, circular ring of mushrooms growing in your lawn or garden? Fairy rings evoke images of magic and mystery but what exactly are they? In this article, gardening (and mushroom) enthusiast Liessa Bowen dives into the realm of the fairy rings to demystify these other-worldly occurrences.

A charming flowerbed with various hosta plants, ornamental grasses, perennials growing under pine trees.

Ornamental Gardens

23 Plants to Grow Under Pine Trees

Do you have pine trees in or around your yard, yet want to have an attractive garden? It may seem like absolutely nothing grows under a pine tree but you might be surprised at the variety of attractive plants that will. In this article, gardening expert Liessa Bowen introduces 23 perfect plants to use in your pineland garden.

great blue lobelia features tall spikes adorned with vivid blue tubular flowers and lance-shaped, dark green leaves.

Flowers

How to Plant, Grow, and Care For Great Blue Lobelia

Do you have a moist garden plot with enough space for a spectacular perennial wildflower? Great blue lobelia is an eye-catching plant that appeals to gardeners, hummingbirds, and a multitude of pollinators. In this article, gardening expert Liessa Bowen will discuss the proper care and maintenance of these brilliant blue-flowering plants.

A beautiful, orange Lepidoptera sitting on a buttonbush flower head with pretty white petals, among enormous green leaves.

Gardening Tips

11 Ways to Attract More Butterflies to Your Garden

Would you like to entice a steady stream of beautiful butterflies to visit your garden? You don’t need a huge space or major expenses to attract plenty of butterflies and other pollinators to your landscape. In this article, gardening expert Liessa Bowen shares 11 easy tips to attract more butterflies to your yard and garden.

This low-maintenance tree features a graceful form with layered branches, oval green leaves, and striking white bracts resembling flowers, which turn pink as they mature.

Trees

17 Low-Maintenance Trees For Your Landscape

Would you like to add a new tree to your landscape but want something with minimal fuss? Luckily, plenty of highly ornamental yet easy-to-grow trees add some hardy greenery and structure to your yard. In this article, gardening expert Liessa Bowen shares 17 of her favorite low-maintenance trees to add attractive foliage, beautiful flowers, and wildlife habitat to your landscape.

It features smooth, evergreen leaves with delicate, star-like blue or purple blooms that create a captivating display against the rich green backdrop.

Ground Cover

Don’t Plant These 15 Invasive Ground Covers

Are you looking for some ornamental ground covers to enhance your landscape? Beware of invasive species and do yourself, and the environment, a favor by not planting these fast-growing aggressive plants. In this article, gardening expert Liessa Bowen introduces 15 invasive ground cover plants that you should avoid using in your garden.