Garden enthusiasts wait eagerly for the first flower festival and the annual plant shows. These usually come at a time when we have just finished a long cold winter and are impatient for the garden season. For anyone craving a quick detour as they map out their own easy garden hideaway, a garden festival gives us time to dream, purchase, get inspiration and simply spend time enjoying the artistic paintbrush of nature. Here are 10 of our recommended plant shows that will hearten and encourage you as the garden season awakens… 1. Skagit Valley Tulip Festival (Mount Vernon, Washington) (Image…

Introduction When the crisp air of autumn settles in and the first frosts threaten your garden, most people assume the growing season is over. But what if you could keep harvesting fresh greens, herbs, and even root crops well into winter—without investing in an expensive greenhouse? That’s where cold frame gardening comes in. Cold frames and hoop houses are the unsung heroes of the backyard garden. They’re simple, affordable, and incredibly effective at extending your harvest. With just a few materials—often things you already have lying around—you can build protective structures that shield your plants from frost, wind, and fluctuating…