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
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Forever Growing Garden Design – Learn About Forever Flower Gardens
What is a forever garden? Simply put, it's a long-lived garden filled with beautiful perennials and hardscaping features such as fences, walkways, and fountains.
By Laura Miller
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Learn About The Oldest Potted Plant In The World
If you can’t see the world’s oldest Cycad, you can grow a Sago Palm at hone instead. Read on to learn more.
By Laura Miller
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Iridescent Plants That Will Light Up Your Garden
Are you looking to add a little shimmer to the garden? Click here to learn more about iridescent plants.
By Laura Miller
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Stop Other Birds On Hummingbird Feeders – Do Other Birds Use A Hummingbird Feeder
Many bird-loving gardeners hang hummingbird feeders, hen discover other species of birds have invaded and chased the hummers away. If this is you, read on for tips.
By Laura Miller
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How To Get Rid Of Squash Bugs Naturally
Are squash bugs sucking the life out of your cucurbit crops? Growing companion plants is one method of controlling these destructive pests.
By Laura Miller
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Echinodorus Creeping Burhead – Information On Creeping Burhead Plant Care
Creeping burhead plants are members of the water plantain family and commonly used in freshwater aquariums or outdoor fishponds. Echinodorus creeping burhead is native to the eastern half of the United States. To learn more about the creeping burhead plant click the following.
By Laura Miller
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Chinese Box Orange: Characteristics And Caring For Severinia Buxifolia
Although the Chinese box orange doesn’t produce edible citrus fruit, it still has many positive attributes and can be a wonderful addition to the landscape. Click here to learn why you should consider planting box orange in your yard.
By Laura Miller
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Growing A Self Sufficient Garden - Plant A Self Sustaining Food Garden
More people are recognizing the value of growing a self-sufficient garden. But what is gardening self-sufficiency, and how does one go about making a self-reliant garden? Read on to learn more.
By Laura Miller
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African Violets – Then And Now
I think I’ve made up for my early life failures with African violets now that I know what they need. Click to learn more.
By Laura Miller
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Duct Tape Garden Hacks: Learn About Gardening With Duct Tape
Available in a wide array of colors, patterns, roll sizes and sheets, its bonding power makes it easy to find creative uses for duct tape. But what can gardeners do with duct tape? Outdoor uses are ideal for this product and we’ll tell you how. Click here for more info.
By Laura Miller
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Heart-Shaped Plants: Different Varieties Of Heart-Shaped Houseplants
Whether it's Valentine's day, your anniversary or any special occasion, a houseplant with heart-shaped leaves is a great way to express your love. Read on for more.
By Laura Miller
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What Are Episcia Plants – Learn About Caring For Episcia Varieties
Growing Episcia plants adds eye catching appeal to household décor. These colorful houseplants can test the hand of the most experienced green thumb.
By Laura Miller
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Relaxing Plants To Grow Indoors For A Calmer Mind
Are there houseplants that can help you to relax? Click here to find out.
By Laura Miller
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Should You Actually Compost Compostable Cat Litter?
Can you compost cat litter? Should you? Click here to find out.
By Laura Miller
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How To Grow A Variegated String Of Hearts Plant
Variegated String of Hearts make adorable houseplants that are ideally suited for hanging baskets. Click here to learn all about Variegated String of Hearts plants.
By Laura Miller
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Learn Why It’s Better To Harvest Before Rain
Without a doubt, gardening is a weather-related activity. Should you harvest before rain or after? Read on to learn more.
By Laura Miller
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Grow Your Own Wellness Garden – How To Make A Peaceful Backyard Garden
A backyard wellness garden is a healthy area to relax and reduce the stress of daily life. Read more about how to make one of your own.
By Laura Miller
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What Is A Root Cellar – Tips For Using And Building A Root Cellar
In areas where you can't grow fruits and vegetables year-round, a root cellar is the key to economical, long-term storage of produce over the winter. Read on for more.
By Laura Miller
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Ornamental Gourd Wreath: Decorate With Pumpkins And Gourds From The Garden
Are you looking for an easy craft project to celebrate the gorgeous colors of the fall season? Read on for more.
By Laura Miller
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Gifting Used Gardening Books: How To Donate Garden Books
If you’ve ever wondered what to do with old garden books, consider gifting or donating them. Click here to learn how to donate garden books.
By Laura Miller
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Using Coffee Grounds On Tomato Plants
The trick to using coffee grounds in your plants is moderation. A little is great – a lot is not. Read on for more about coffee grounds.
By Laura Miller
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Creative And Catchy Names For Plants
If you're looking for catchy monikers for your favorite leafy friends, click here for some humorous and cute names for plants.
By Laura Miller