Posts By

Liz Jaros

Liz Jaros is a professional writer and gardener who calls the Midwest home. She divides her time between running a small landscape design business, writing garden content and volunteering as a Certified Master Gardener. Formally educated in both horticulture and journalism, Liz is either working with plants or writing about them. She specializes in urban yard restoration and small property landscaping for metro area homeowners.

A view of pink and purple bluebonnets in a garden. Both the pink and purple lupines have buds and keels with hints of yellow and greenish centers. Lush green leaves with slender shapes can be seen in the background.

Flowers

11 Beautiful Lupine Varieties for Your Garden

Interested in growing some lupines but not sure which varieties to try? Wondering if you should be looking at annual, perennial, or wildflower species? In this article, certified master gardener Liz Jaros helps clear up some of the confusion surrounding this vertical cottage charmer and suggests 11 lupine varieties for you to try at home.

A close-up reveals multiple lavender lupine flowers with delicate petals on long, slender stems. The vibrant blooms contrast beautifully with the lush green leaves that surround them.

Flowers

Are Lupines Annual, Biennial, or Perennial Plants?

Interested in planting some lupines but confused about how they grow? Want to know more about those spiky purple flowers that drift through the meadow each spring? In this article, certified master gardener Liz Jaros examines the varying life cycles within the lupine genus and clears up some confusion surrounding this unusual plant.

A full cottage-style border incorporates tall trees in back, a variety of low shrubs, and finally, shorter perennials and annual flowers.

Gardening Tips

What’s My Garden Style?

Do you know your garden style? Whether you're designing a landscape from scratch or redoing your current garden, landscape designer Liz Jaros is here to help with an explanation of seven popular garden styles, their key characteristics, and recommended plants for each!

close up of a pink Asiatic lily bloom with a yellow center and prominent anthers.

Flowers

How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Asiatic Lilies

Want to know more about Asiatic lilies and how to care for them? Are you looking to inject the landscape with bold color and unusual foliage? In this article, certified master gardener Liz Jaros breaks down the genus and discusses everything you need to know about growing Asiatic lilies.

A small white house displays a wall completely covered by ivy.

Gardening Tips

Myth or Truth: Will Ivy Destroy the Exterior of Your Home?

Thinking of planting some ivy or buying a home with ivy-covered walls? Have you heard horror stories about aggressive climbing vines burrowing into bricks and siding? In this article, landscape designer Liz Jaros examines the controversy surrounding exterior ivy, takes a closer look at the most common varieties, and offers suggestions for preventing damage to your home.

Several stunning Dutch irises blooming gracefully; their majestic petals standing tall amidst a sea of slender green leaves. The flowers reveal their captivating tubular shape, painted in a deep purple, accented by vibrant, sunny yellow centers.

Flowers

Are Irises Annual, Biennial, or Perennial plants?

If I plant irises in my yard this season, will they survive winter and flower again next year? How do I know if I’m planting an annual, biennial, or perennial iris? Determining whether or not your dramatic, ruffly iris blooms are a one-time thing or a regular occurrence can be a little tricky. In this article, certified master gardener Liz Jaros helps clear the air so you’ll know what to expect from this beloved garden staple in the seasons to come.

Orange Iris growing in Garden with bright orange petals opened for the sunlight.

Flowers

11 Different Types of Orange Iris Varieties For Your Flowerbeds

Looking for an orange iris variety to zest up the yard? Hoping to install a few garden stars that’ll set a sunny tone? With 300 species and thousands of cultivars, there are plenty of orange iris varieties to choose from. In this article, certified master gardener Liz Jaros profiles 11 of her favorites, offering growing tips and maintenance requirements for each.

bicolor iris

Flowers

9 Reasons to Plant Bicolor Irises This Season

Interested in growing some bicolor iris this year but not sure if it’s the right plant for you? Wondering what kind of iris you can grow in your southern garden? In this article, certified master gardener Liz Jaros offers 9 reasons why you might want to give this lesser-known, warm-climate iris a closer look.

Amsonia tabernaemontana or Bluestar

Ornamental Gardens

21 Flowering Perennials For Michigan Gardens

Are you looking for some flowering perennial plants to grow in your Michigan garden? There are many perennial plants to choose from, depending on the part of Michigan you plan to grow in. In this article, certified master gardener Liz Jaros shares her favorite flowering perennials for Michigan gardens and flowerbeds this season.

red irises

Flowers

11 Different Types of Red Irises To Grow This Season

Looking for a red iris that will turn up the heat in your garden and lend a little drama to the landscape? Several species in the Iris genus offer flowers in shades of red. In this article, certified master gardener and landscape designer Liz Jaros profiles 11 of her favorites.

A cluster of irises in vibrant hues, displaying a spectrum of colors now faded and wilted, their petals drooping and lifeless. Their stems remain resilient, standing tall and verdant, patiently awaiting their inevitable wilting.

Plant Problems

9 Reasons Your Irises Are Brown, Wilted, or Dying

Are your irises looking a little under the weather? There are a number of reasons why an iris plant might be brown, wilted, or dying. In this article, certified master gardener and landscape designer Liz Jaros discusses 9 reasons they might not be thriving and offers some suggestions for turning things around.