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.

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.

A small bee about to land on a sprig of violet lavender.

Flowers

31 Plants to Attract Beneficial Insects to Your Garden

Are you looking for a few plants, or an entire garden’s worth of plants, to entice beneficial insects to visit your landscape? Fortunately, a great wealth of beautiful flowering plants can provide food, shelter, and habitat for insects that provide valuable services in your garden. In this article, gardening expert (and bug enthusiast) Liessa Bowen shares her favorite plants to attract the insects that help your garden.

Close-up of a cauliflower growing on a wooden raised bed features broad, thick, blue-green leaves that form a protective canopy over its dense, white, tightly-clustered flower head.

Raised Bed Gardening

How to Grow Cauliflower in Raised Beds: A Complete Guide

Are you looking for something a little different to fill your raised beds this spring or fall? Cauliflower is a uniquely delicious, beautiful, cool-weather vegetable that you can grow in your garden and even in a raised bed. In this article, gardening expert Liessa Bowen shares some insights on how to successfully grow cauliflower in a raised bed.

A pineapple sage plant showcasing red tubular flowers amid lush green leaves.

Ornamental Gardens

How to Plant, Grow, and Care For Pineapple Sage

Are you looking for a showy perennial to attract hummingbirds and add some summer flare to your flower garden? Pineapple sage is a vibrant, showy flower that’s perennial in warmer climates and easily grown as an annual in cooler zones. In this article, gardening enthusiast Liessa Bowen will discuss the proper care and maintenance of these spectacular plants.

Purple coneflowers in full bloom, surrounded by lush green foliage and orange milkweed flowers in a garden setting.

Ornamental Gardens

Are Native Plants Better Than Cultivars?

When you look at plants, do you ever wonder where they came from? Every plant originated somewhere but some have been bred to enhance certain characteristics. In this article, gardening expert Liessa Bowen takes a closer look at the differences between native plants and cultivars and attempts to answer the question, “Which is better?”

Vibrant purple American Wisteria flowers, gracefully hanging in groups, catch the warm sunlight, showcasing their delicate petals. The vibrant hue contrasts beautifully with the lush green leaves, forming a picturesque scene of nature's vibrant and harmonious beauty.

Ornamental Gardens

15 US-Native Climbing Plants and Vines

Are you looking for some interesting vines to add to your landscape? How about looking into some ornamental native vines? In this article, gardening expert Liessa Bowen introduces 15 easy-to-grow native vines and climbing plants that will make themselves right at home in your garden!

A close-up of flowering Bee Balm, Monarda Didyma. Vibrant pink petals burst forth from the center, attracting bees and butterflies alike. Surrounding the blooms, lush green leaves provide a verdant backdrop, enhancing the flower's beauty.

Gardening Tips

Can Native Plants Be Invasive?

You’ve probably heard terms like native plants, exotic plants, and invasive species. But do you know what these terms mean and whether or not they overlap? In this article, gardening expert Liessa Bowen explores some differences between native and exotic species and explains what makes a plant invasive.