Posts By

Melissa Strauss

Melissa is a writer, hobby gardener, beekeeper and homemaker. She can be found working in her extensive pollinator garden, trolling the local nurseries for unique plant specimens, and tending to the many fruit-bearing plants on her property. Melissa hopes to inspire other gardeners to delve into the rich and fulfilling world of pollinator gardening.

A gardener holding a lovely fruit after they thin apple trees

Fruits

How to Thin Apple Trees in 5 Easy Steps

Thinning apple trees is an important part of growing healthy trees with big, juicy fruits. Join gardening expert Melissa Strauss to walk through the process of thinning your apple trees this season.

Close-up of one of the traditional memorial day flowers, a bright red poppy with papery petals surrounding a contrasting black center, on a thin stem, against a blurry background.

Flowers

7 Traditional Flowers to Plant for Memorial Day

Dressing up the garden for Memorial Day can be a beautiful tribute to those who dedicated their lives to our country. Gardening expert Melissa Strauss shares some traditional flowers to plant for the holiday, and the reasons why these flowers show up for the occasion.