http://www.toledoblade.com The Latest News from Toledoblade.com (v5) Mon, 09 Nov 2026 05:01:00 GMT en-us hourly 1 https://www.toledoblade.com/a-e/Gardening/2026/11/05/stone-why-some-spring-flowers-are-blooming-in-fall/stories/20261103098 https://www.toledoblade.com/a-e/Gardening/2026/11/05/stone-why-some-spring-flowers-are-blooming-in-fall/stories/20261103098#comments Thu, 05 Nov 2026 12:00:00 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/a-e/Gardening/2026/11/05/stone-why-some-spring-flowers-are-blooming-in-fall/stories/20261103098 Earlier this fall, gardeners were seeing colors. A yellow forsythia flower blooms alongside autumn foliage. Although forsythia typically flowers in the spring, unusual weather conditions can cause some buds to open in the fall. Bright yellow ginkgo leaves provide a colorful display in the fall. Ginkgo trees are known for their distinctive fan-shaped leaves. Yellow flowers appear on a forsythia shrub as its leaves turn reddish-purple in the fall. Spring-blooming plants sometimes produce flowers out of season, a phenomenon known as remontant blooming. A yellow forsythia flower blooms among dark green leaves in the fall. Unseasonal flowering can occur when environmental conditions trigger plants to break dormancy early. https://www.toledoblade.com/a-e/Gardening/2026/10/31/stone-what-the-north-toledo-chemical-release-means-for-gardeners/stories/20261030099 https://www.toledoblade.com/a-e/Gardening/2026/10/31/stone-what-the-north-toledo-chemical-release-means-for-gardeners/stories/20261030099#comments Sat, 31 Oct 2026 12:30:00 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/a-e/Gardening/2026/10/31/stone-what-the-north-toledo-chemical-release-means-for-gardeners/stories/20261030099 For gardeners living near the site of the recent North Toledo chemical emergency, the questions go beyond whether the air is safe to breathe. Holly Burnside's flower garden includes a variety of plants still growing as fall progresses. The recent North Toledo chemical emergency has raised questions about the safety of gardens and outdoor plants in affected areas. Carrots grow in Holly Burnside's vegetable garden. The Toledo Lucas County Health Department has advised residents affected by the North Toledo chemical emergency to discard uncovered fresh fruits and vegetables left outdoors. https://www.toledoblade.com/a-e/Gardening/2026/10/29/stone-from-pumpkins-to-gourds-fall-s-bounty-comes-in-all-shapes-and-sizes/stories/20261029023 https://www.toledoblade.com/a-e/Gardening/2026/10/29/stone-from-pumpkins-to-gourds-fall-s-bounty-comes-in-all-shapes-and-sizes/stories/20261029023#comments Thu, 29 Oct 2026 11:11:14 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/a-e/Gardening/2026/10/29/stone-from-pumpkins-to-gourds-fall-s-bounty-comes-in-all-shapes-and-sizes/stories/20261029023 I am sure I am not the only one enjoying this amazing fall. It has been almost picture perfect. Crisp mornings, warm sunshine, and spectacular seasonal shades of fall that fill our autumn palette. We have been talking leaves the last couple of weeks — and this week, it is all about pumpkins. An assortment of pumpkins and gourds showcases the variety of colors, shapes, sizes, and textures available for fall decorating. Members of the Cucurbitaceae family can be grown for food or ornamental purposes. A deeply ribbed, gray-green pumpkin illustrates the wide variety of colors, shapes, and textures found among members of the Cucurbitaceae family, which includes pumpkins, gourds, and squash. A pumpkin's distinctive coloring and deeply ribbed surface demonstrate the diversity of ornamental varieties that can add interest to fall displays. A bright yellow ornamental gourd features the unusual bumps and textured surface that make gourds popular for autumn decorating. Not all pumpkins are orange. This deeply ribbed variety features striking red-orange coloring with dark green markings. Pumpkins come in an assortment of shapes, sizes, and colors, from traditional orange varieties to flattened, deeply ribbed gray-green pumpkins. https://www.toledoblade.com/a-e/Gardening/2026/10/22/stone-leaving-fallen-leaves-benefits-insects-wildlife-and-gardens/stories/20261022012 https://www.toledoblade.com/a-e/Gardening/2026/10/22/stone-leaving-fallen-leaves-benefits-insects-wildlife-and-gardens/stories/20261022012#comments Thu, 22 Oct 2026 10:23:40 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/a-e/Gardening/2026/10/22/stone-leaving-fallen-leaves-benefits-insects-wildlife-and-gardens/stories/20261022012 Shades of fall continue to increase as day length shortens and temperatures fall. Do you have a favorite plant that brightens your day every autumn? The golden hues of ginkgos and the vibrant colors of sugar maples are two of my favorites. Fallen leaves provide shelter and habitat for beneficial insects, including fireflies, butterflies, and moths. Leaving some leaf litter in gardens and landscapes helps these creatures survive and supports a healthy ecosystem. Fallen leaves provide essential habitat for beneficial insects, including butterflies, moths, fireflies, and native bees. Leaving some leaves in gardens and landscapes can help protect these creatures and support healthy ecosystems. https://www.toledoblade.com/a-e/Gardening/2026/10/15/stone-leave-the-leaves-nature-s-way-of-nourishing-your-yard/stories/20261013089 https://www.toledoblade.com/a-e/Gardening/2026/10/15/stone-leave-the-leaves-nature-s-way-of-nourishing-your-yard/stories/20261013089#comments Thu, 15 Oct 2026 11:30:00 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/a-e/Gardening/2026/10/15/stone-leave-the-leaves-nature-s-way-of-nourishing-your-yard/stories/20261013089 Earlier this week, I took a couple of quick trips to the Lansing area. The farther north I drove, the more magnificent the fall colors became. That’s not to say we aren’t seeing the change from summertime greens to vibrant shades of red, orange, yellow, purple, and even brown in our own backyard, but they’re just a little ahead of us, offering a preview of what’s to come. A green caterpillar with distinctive eyespot markings rests on a yellowing leaf at Oak Openings Metropark, where autumn colors are beginning to emerge. Vibrant shades of red and purple brighten the understory at Oak Openings Metropark as plants transition into their fall colors. Bright yellow leaves signal the arrival of fall at Oak Openings Metropark. Fallen leaves provide nutrients for the soil as they decompose. Leaves turn shades of orange and red at Oak Openings Metropark. Allowing fallen leaves to decompose naturally helps improve soil health and provides habitat for wildlife. https://www.toledoblade.com/a-e/Gardening/2026/10/08/stone-fairy-rings-bring-a-little-magic-and-fungi-to-lawns/stories/20261005115 https://www.toledoblade.com/a-e/Gardening/2026/10/08/stone-fairy-rings-bring-a-little-magic-and-fungi-to-lawns/stories/20261005115#comments Thu, 08 Oct 2026 10:30:00 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/a-e/Gardening/2026/10/08/stone-fairy-rings-bring-a-little-magic-and-fungi-to-lawns/stories/20261005115 This season, I noticed fairy rings when I was out and about. Last week, I was on a horticultural study tour with some former Ohio State University colleagues who remain great friends even after I retired. No matter where our travels took us, we saw fairy rings — and I thought, what a great topic for this week’s garden column. A large mushroom grows as part of a fairy ring in a lawn. Mushrooms grow in a lawn as part of a fairy ring, a circular or partial pattern caused by fungi growing in the soil. Mushrooms form part of a fairy ring in a lawn. The rings can reach up to 15 feet in diameter. A cluster of mushrooms grows along a fairy ring in a lawn. Mushrooms form a visible arc in a lawn. Fairy rings can appear as rings of mushrooms during wet weather. A mushroom grows in a lawn where fungi have produced a fairy ring. https://www.toledoblade.com/a-e/Gardening/2026/10/01/stone-new-plants-offer-fresh-inspiration-for-2027-gardens/stories/20260928096 https://www.toledoblade.com/a-e/Gardening/2026/10/01/stone-new-plants-offer-fresh-inspiration-for-2027-gardens/stories/20260928096#comments Thu, 01 Oct 2026 10:00:00 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/a-e/Gardening/2026/10/01/stone-new-plants-offer-fresh-inspiration-for-2027-gardens/stories/20260928096 Can you believe that it’s October? As the gardening season winds down this year, nurseries, greenhouses, and garden centers are already tempting us with what is to come. Gardeners looking ahead to next season will have new plant introductions and plants of the year to consider for their landscapes. Even as this year’s gardening season winds down, growers and plant organizations are already introducing new varieties and recommendations for 2027. https://www.toledoblade.com/a-e/Gardening/2026/09/24/stone-know-the-difference-between-bees-wasps-and-their-look-alikes/stories/20260921088 https://www.toledoblade.com/a-e/Gardening/2026/09/24/stone-know-the-difference-between-bees-wasps-and-their-look-alikes/stories/20260921088#comments Thu, 24 Sep 2026 10:59:04 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/a-e/Gardening/2026/09/24/stone-know-the-difference-between-bees-wasps-and-their-look-alikes/stories/20260921088 In last week’s column, we discussed cicada killer wasps and briefly mentioned today’s topic — other wasps and their relatives. A honey bee visits a milkweed flower. Bees generally have hairier bodies than wasps and have two pairs of developed wings. A hoverfly rests on a flower. Hoverflies can be mistaken for bees or wasps because of their black-and-yellow markings, but as flies they have only one pair of developed wings. A yellow jacket approaches a cluster of berries. Yellowjackets are wasps, not bees, and have smoother bodies and more pronounced, narrow waists than bees. Bald-faced hornets, which are actually a type of yellowjacket wasp, emerge from their nest. Wasps generally have smoother bodies and more pronounced, narrow waists than bees. https://www.toledoblade.com/a-e/Gardening/2026/09/17/cicada-killer-wasps-are-more-friend-than-foe/stories/20260915076 https://www.toledoblade.com/a-e/Gardening/2026/09/17/cicada-killer-wasps-are-more-friend-than-foe/stories/20260915076#comments Thu, 17 Sep 2026 11:00:00 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/a-e/Gardening/2026/09/17/cicada-killer-wasps-are-more-friend-than-foe/stories/20260915076 In last week’s column, I covered cicadas and ended with a mention of today’s topic — cicada killer wasps (Sphecius speciosus). A cicada killer wasp, Sphecius speciosus, rests on a flower. Despite their large size and intimidating appearance, cicada killers generally are not aggressive toward people. A male cicada killer wasp surveys its territory. Males aggressively defend areas around nesting sites and may buzz people who approach, but they lack stingers. A female cicada killer wasp digs a burrow in the soil. Females capture and paralyze cicadas, then drag them into underground burrows where they serve as food for developing larvae. https://www.toledoblade.com/a-e/Gardening/2026/09/10/stone-dog-day-cicadas-make-their-summer-song-heard/stories/20260910015 https://www.toledoblade.com/a-e/Gardening/2026/09/10/stone-dog-day-cicadas-make-their-summer-song-heard/stories/20260910015#comments Thu, 10 Sep 2026 11:00:00 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/a-e/Gardening/2026/09/10/stone-dog-day-cicadas-make-their-summer-song-heard/stories/20260910015 Next time you have a spare minute or two, head outdoors and simply listen. A newly emerged annual dog-day cicada rests on a leaf. Cicadas spend two to three years developing underground before emerging as adults. A female annual dog-day cicada uses her ovipositor to insert eggs into a branch. The egg-laying process can damage twigs, causing leaves to turn brown and the twigs to eventually drop. An adult annual dog-day cicada rests on a branch. The ruler shows the insect is about 1½ inches long. The cast nymphal skin of an annual dog-day cicada clings to a leaf. The empty shells are often easier to spot than the adult cicadas themselves. https://www.toledoblade.com/a-e/Gardening/2026/09/03/stone-defoliated-plants-aren-t-necessarily-doomed/stories/20260831075 https://www.toledoblade.com/a-e/Gardening/2026/09/03/stone-defoliated-plants-aren-t-necessarily-doomed/stories/20260831075#comments Thu, 03 Sep 2026 11:00:00 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/a-e/Gardening/2026/09/03/stone-defoliated-plants-aren-t-necessarily-doomed/stories/20260831075 Today’s column revolves around the topic of defoliation of plants in your gardens, landscapes, and even larger woodlots or forests. Boxwoods can be severely defoliated by box tree moth caterpillars, leaving plants brown and nearly bare. Feeding by box tree moth caterpillars damages boxwood leaves, sometimes leaving behind only portions of the foliage. A box tree moth caterpillar feeds on a boxwood plant. Heavy infestations can quickly defoliate boxwoods and require a swift response. https://www.toledoblade.com/a-e/Gardening/2026/08/27/stone-fall-lawn-care-can-curb-crabgrass/stories/20260827023 https://www.toledoblade.com/a-e/Gardening/2026/08/27/stone-fall-lawn-care-can-curb-crabgrass/stories/20260827023#comments Thu, 27 Aug 2026 10:00:00 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/a-e/Gardening/2026/08/27/stone-fall-lawn-care-can-curb-crabgrass/stories/20260827023 There can be something satisfying about putting the garden to bed in the fall. Crabgrass thrives along the edge of a sidewalk, one of the tough growing areas where the weed can take hold. Crabgrass spreads through a lawn, taking advantage of thin areas where desirable turfgrass is less dense. Crabgrass grows among turfgrass. Maintaining a healthy, dense lawn is one of the best defenses against the annual weed. A crabgrass plant pulled from the ground. Removing mature plants before they produce and drop seeds can help reduce the amount of crabgrass that emerges the following year. Mature crabgrass can spread aggressively by late summer and produce seeds that remain in the soil through winter and germinate the following spring. https://www.toledoblade.com/a-e/Gardening/2026/08/20/stone-spotted-lanternflies-take-wing-as-adults-emerge/stories/20260819085 https://www.toledoblade.com/a-e/Gardening/2026/08/20/stone-spotted-lanternflies-take-wing-as-adults-emerge/stories/20260819085#comments Thu, 20 Aug 2026 10:59:57 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/a-e/Gardening/2026/08/20/stone-spotted-lanternflies-take-wing-as-adults-emerge/stories/20260819085 It’s been more than four months since I discussed the spotted lanternfly in this column. An adult spotted lanternfly, top, and a spotted lantern fly nymph in the area of Airport Highway and Lake Shore Avenue Aug. 3, 2023, in Toledo. An adult spotted lanternfly displays its distinctive red hind wings beneath its spotted forewings. The invasive insect develops wings after passing through four nymphal stages. Adult spotted lanternflies are not particularly strong fliers, but they can spread long distances by hitching rides on vehicles and other objects. https://www.toledoblade.com/a-e/Gardening/2026/08/13/stone-the-case-for-testing-soil-before-the-ground-freezes/stories/20260811089 https://www.toledoblade.com/a-e/Gardening/2026/08/13/stone-the-case-for-testing-soil-before-the-ground-freezes/stories/20260811089#comments Thu, 13 Aug 2026 11:07:05 GMT https://www.toledoblade.com/a-e/Gardening/2026/08/13/stone-the-case-for-testing-soil-before-the-ground-freezes/stories/20260811089 I’m willing to bet that many of you have heard the old saying, "Don't guess, soil test." And even if you haven’t, it is a pretty simple message that scores of us could hopefully agree on. A tree's lateral roots sit close to the surface, exposed here by erosion on a wooded slope. Sampling depth for a tree runs 6 to 12 inches. Scorch symptoms mark a red oak leaf. 'Why are the leaves on my tree turning yellow?' is the kind of question that sends gardeners to a soil test. A tulip tree's foliage carries the early signs of a nutritional deficiency, the sort of problem a lab report can pin down.