Marisa Reyes

Iowa

Associate Editor at Garden Gate Magazine

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Articles

Attract More Birds to Your Garden with Nesting Boxes

4 weeks ago | gardengatemagazine.com | Marisa Reyes

Bird nesting boxes bring big benefits to the gardenPlacing nesting boxes around your garden is a great way to encourage feathery friends to start a family there. With more birds in the yard, you’ll enjoy the benefits of these little garden helpers as they eat unwanted insects, munch on pesky weed seeds and help pollinate your flowers.
How to Create a Sensory Garden

1 month ago | gardengatemagazine.com | Marisa Reyes

Design a garden to please the sensesImagine walking through a well-designed sensory garden where every turn offers a new experience— whether it’s the soothing sound of rustling grasses, the vibrant colors of blooming flowers, the soft touch of velvety leaves, the intoxicating scent of a rose or the taste of fresh fruits and vegetables straight from the garden.
Tips for Growing Lady’s Mantle

Mar 22, 2025 | gardengatemagazine.com | Marisa Reyes

Lady’s mantleType: Perennial Blooms: Clusters of tiny, star-shaped, chartreuse flowers in late spring to early summer Light: Full sun to part shade Soil: Moist, well-drained Pests: None serious Size: 10 to 18 in. tall, 18 to 30 in. wide Hardiness: Cold hardy in USDA zones 4 to 8 Why add lady’s mantle to your garden? There’s something magical about lady’s mantle. Its soft, scalloped light green leaves shimmer with beads of dew, creating a jewel-like effect on a misty morning.
Add Chinese Ground Orchid to Your Shade Garden

Mar 20, 2025 | gardengatemagazine.com | Marisa Reyes

Chinese ground orchidLooking for an exotic addition to your garden without the high maintenance? Say hello to the Chinese ground orchid! This little gem is a game-changer for those of us who dream of growing beautiful orchids in our own backyards but don’t have mild winters. Type: Pseudobulb Blooms: Small, orchidlike pink-purple flowers from mid- to late spring Light: Part shade Soil: Moist, well-drained Pests: None serious Size: 12 to 18 in. tall, 6 to 12 in.
Colorful Shade Garden Bed with Chinese Ground Orchid

Mar 20, 2025 | gardengatemagazine.com | Marisa Reyes

Chinese ground orchid pops in spring with brunnera and astilbeThe tropical elegance of Chinese ground orchid (Bletilla striata) is sure to stand out in a mixed planting like this and bring early season interest to your garden. Try this colorful combo to brighten up your shady beds and borders. Chinese ground orchid’s vibrant blooms and ‘Emerald Mist’ brunnera’s blue flowers and silvery foliage bring early-season excitement in this mixed planting.
4 Basics of Permaculture Gardening

Feb 6, 2025 | gardengatemagazine.com | Marisa Reyes

Permaculture basicsPeople, plants, animals, insects — we all belong to a giant web of life. Permaculture, or “permanent agriculture,” is an all-encompassing way of thinking about how to promote the natural interaction between all of these players. And it’s been practiced for thousands of years.
Solve Garden Problems with Ground Cover Plants

Jan 28, 2025 | gardengatemagazine.com | Marisa Reyes

5 Ways to use ground cover plants to solve garden problemsAre you tired of coaxing turfgrass to grow in difficult spots? In her book Ground Cover Revolution, Kathy Jentz says that ground cover plants can be the solution to these struggles. She shares practical tips for replacing turfgrass with low-maintenance ground cover plants that thrive on slopes, in clay soil, deep shade, heavy clay and more.
How to Grow Cinnamon Fern

Dec 14, 2024 | gardengatemagazine.com | Marisa Reyes

Cinnamon fernCinnamon fern adds charm to any shade garden and requires little maintenance. In early spring, its fiddleheads emerge and transform into beautiful specimens like those above. The cinnamon-colored spore-bearing spikes last for several weeks before fading, while the arching fronds reach 2 to 3 feet and remain attractive until fall.
How to Grow Spinach

Oct 5, 2024 | gardengatemagazine.com | Marisa Reyes

Grow spinach in spring or fall!If you’re one of those gardeners who can’t wait to get started in spring and hates to throw in the trowel in fall, spinach is the perfect “shoulder season” crop. This mild, earthy-flavored green comes in many varieties, ranging from crinkly-leafed savoys to slightly textured semi-savoys and the flat, smooth-leafed types. Colors can be dark green, light green and even red-veined. Here’s how to get the most of it every year.
Flower Pounding on Fabric

Sep 30, 2024 | gardengatemagazine.com | Carrie Topp |Marisa Reyes

Tips for flower pounding on fabricEnjoy blooms from your garden year-round when you create botanical prints with flower pounding. In addition to these charming gift bags, you can make towels, tablecloths, shirts and even socks. This simple process starts with fresh flowers, a hammer and fabric made of natural fibers, such as cotton, linen, bamboo or hemp. Watch the video above and read the simple steps below to learn more about the flower pounding technique.