Laura Miller
Laura's passion for gardening germinated when she was a young child. Limited by the types of pets her parents would allow, Laura turned to nurturing plants as a way to interact with other living entities. From growing radishes in her own garden space to raising cactus from seeds, what began as an excuse to play in the dirt transformed into a lifelong hobby.Much of Laura's early plant knowledge and gardening skill came from her parents. Each summer, her family grew a garden brimming with fresh vegetables. Laura fondly remembers the many mouthwatering recipes her mother would make using the vine-ripened tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, cucumbers, cabbage and Swiss chard from their home garden.To this day, Laura grows these same vegetables as well as many others in her garden. Some of her favorite garden veggies include English peas, long-green frying peppers and bi-color corn. Her two-acre property is also home to several types of berries, a robust asparagus patch and several fruit trees.Yet, it's her container fig trees which she cherishes the most. Grown from root cuttings, these figs trace back to trees which grew on her family's ancestral home in Italy. This has helped shaped Laura's view that plants can be a way of connecting with long-lost loved ones. Flowers, in particular, remind her of the matriarchs in her family tree.Trumpet vines and snap dragons undoubtedly bring a smile to Laura's face as she remembers hot summer evenings spent on her grandmother's porch swing. During their bloom time, Laura loves to cut a few spikes of gladiolus to bring inside as a reminder of her mother.Over the years, Laura has also shared her property with horses, domestic ducks and an ornery goat. Having these animals encouraged her to adopt organic lawn care methods and delve into large-scale composting of farm animal waste materials. Laura credits much of her gardening success to the compost which has amended the soil of both her vegetable garden and flower beds.In addition to sharing her home with dogs, cats and a cockatoo, Laura has nearly 50 houseplants and container fruit trees which spend the winters indoors. She has experimented with indoor vegetable gardening and hopes someday she can reduce her dependence upon store-bought produce by growing her own veggies year round.Laura still enjoys the challenge of raising cactus from seed. Even though she has been a gardener for most of her life and a homeowner for nearly four decades, Laura realizes there is still much to learn about plants. She has very much enjoyed sharing her gardening successes and failures with Gardening Know How readers.
Latest articles by Laura Miller
-
Here’s How USDA Hardiness Zones Have Changed Over The Years
We can probably expect the USDA to redraw US hardiness zones as our climate continues to change. Read on.
By Laura Miller
-
Learn How Plants And Soil Produce The Smell Of Rain
Have you ever wondered why rain smells? Click here to learn how plants and soil make that pleasing “rain smell” aroma.
By Laura Miller
-
These Weeds That Spread By Seed Can Sprout After Years
Find out about weeds with long lasting seeds that can sprout and spread years later here.
By Laura Miller
-
What Is Silt And How Does It Impact Soil
What is silt? Learn the differences among silt, clay and sand, and how silt contributes to plant fertility.
By Laura Miller
-
How To Reduce Waste In Your Yard And Garden
Want to learn the best practices for creating less waste in your yard and garden? Click here to read up on the latest.
By Laura Miller
-
Pink Pineapples: Learn About Super Sweet Pinkglow Pineapples
What is a pink pineapple? If you've never seen a Del Monte Pinkglow® pineapple, you're in for a special treat.
By Laura Miller
-
Do Multi-Colored Carrots Taste Different Than Orange Carrots?
Rainbow carrots aren’t as new as we might think. Click here to learn about different carrot colors and flavors.
By Laura Miller
-
Varieties Of Salvia For Part Shade Or Shade
Besides being easy to grow, salvia or sage plants are versatile and some even enjoy partial shade. Read on for more.
By Laura Miller
-
Green Landscaping Ideas For An Eco-Friendly Yard
Protect and support the environment as you embrace green landscaping on your property. Click here to learn how.
By Laura Miller
-
Nanking Bush Cherry Care – How To Grow A Bush Cherry Tree
Other than routine maintenance of fruit trees, the only real labor is the picking. What if you could grow cherries without the hassle of climbing a ladder to pick them? If that sounds intriguing, you may want to consider growing bush cherries. Learn more here.
By Laura Miller
-
DIY Tower Garden Ideas: How To Make A Tower Garden
Perhaps, you'd like to grow more produce for your family but space is limited. Maybe you're looking to add colorful floral planters to your patio but don't want to infringe on your outdoor living space. Building a tower garden is the solution. Learn more here.
By Laura Miller
-
Fruit Trees That Grow In Ohio Valley Gardens
Learn about hardiness zones and the needs of different fruit varieties for successful fruit orchards in Ohio Valley Gardens.
By Laura Miller
-
13 Perennial Fruits And Vegetables You Only Have To Plant Once
Looking to set it and forget it? Find out which fruits and vegetables can be grown as perennials.
By Laura Miller
-
Invasive Plants Northeast Gardeners Should Avoid
Learn about invasive plants to avoid if you live in the Northeast U.S.
By Laura Miller
-
When To Plant English Peas
The first crops of the season make the biggest impact on me. And my favorite of them all is peas. Read on to learn more.
By Laura Miller
-
Central Midwest Lawn Care Calendar
Want some tips on lawn care in the Central Midwest states and Ohio Valley Region? Click here to learn all about it.
By Laura Miller
-
Dahlia Mosaic Symptoms – Treating Dahlias With Mosaic Virus
Your dahlia is clearly not doing well. Its growth is stunted and the leaves are blotchy and twisted. You're wondering if it's missing some type of nutrient, but nothing seems to help. Sadly, you may be witnessing mosaic virus in dahlias. Learn more in this article.
By Laura Miller
-
Dahlia Wilt Disease: How To Treat Spotted Wilt Virus In Dahlias
The spotted wilt virus in dahlias affects more than 200 species of vegetable and ornamental plants worldwide. The disease is spread only by thrips. Learn how to combat the disease and try to save your dahlia plants in this article.
By Laura Miller
-
DIY Herb Carton Planters: Growing Herbs In Milk Cartons
Making a milk carton herb garden is a great way to combine recycling with the love of gardening. Click here for ideas.
By Laura Miller
-
Whipcord Cedar Care – How To Grow Whipcord Western Red Cedars
When you first look at Whipcord western red cedars (Thuja plicata 'Whipcord'), you might think you're seeing a variety of ornamental grass. It's hard to imagine Whipcord cedar is a cultivar of the arborvitae. Click this article for more information.
By Laura Miller
-
Tough As Clay
The soil where I live is clay, and as such, proves to be very challenging. Click here to find out how I manage to still make it work.
By Laura Miller
-
Differences In Snow Peas Vs. Snap Peas
What’s the difference between snap peas and snow peas? Read all about them here.
By Laura Miller