Hardy hibiscus is different from the woody, tropical, shrub hibiscus. Some varieties boast burgundy colored leaves as well as bi-colored pink and red varieties. One light yellow colored variety has the delicious sounding name, 'French Vanilla'.

Much like cilantro, people either love okra or hate it. Harvest the pods when they're less than 4 inches long for the best flavor and texture. Young okra pods are more tender and have less of a “slimy” mouthfeel. Eat them in soups, stews, fried or sautéed. Okra is in the hibiscus family, so the flowers are edible and delicious stuffed or used as a garnish.

Known as the “lilac of the South,” crepe myrtle has traditionally been successfully grown in warmer climates. But now with new hybrid, sterile, varieties, we can grow crepe myrtles in Connecticut.

Oh, dear. What to do about deer? The latest (surprising) finding: Mixing Half & Half with equal parts water worked as well as expensive lanolin sprays for deterring deer.

You may not see much damage in June from the squash bugs living in your garden, but if allowed to thrive, your squash patch will be a mess come August.

Too many fruits can lead to tree branches breaking from the weight and the fruits being small and less flavorful. That's why thinning some fruit from trees is a good idea. Remove some young fruits so the remaining ones thrive.

If you can grow bush beans, you can grow edamame. Once harvested, steam the pods in salty water and eat them as a snack. They're also great cooked with other vegetables, in potato salads and as a topping on summer salads.

After spring flowering shrubs, such as lilacs, forsythia, rhododendrons, weigela, nineback and bridal wreath spirea have finished blooming, you have about 4- to 6-weeks to prune before flowers form for next year.

Peanuts are native to South America and can grow in a variety of climates, including New England, with a little coaxing, and nuts grown in your own garden taste better than what you can buy in the store.

Some summer squash, zucchini and winter squash varieties can be trained to grow vertically, just like climbing peas and pole beans.