Peonies are a classic flower that just about everyone's grandmother grew.

It's unsettling to see the dishes from your college home economics class on display at a vintage dish shop.

Flower choices are plentiful for containers in sun, but what about shade?

The Rolling Meadows Garden Club meets for a demonstration on how to build an obelisk for clinging vines from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the Rolling Meadows Community Center, 3705 Pheasant Drive, Rolling Meadows.

Mary Lou Sorsky has little problem attracting hummingbirds to her home in northwest Fresno, Calif. On less than two acres of land, she has penstemon, a hummingbird plant favorite, a water fountain and a koi pond with a waterfall.

Wouldn't it be nice if your landscape thrived instead of just survived next season? If you follow Richard Liberto's example, it could happen. But first, you'll have to forget about what you see on HGTV and at the big-box stores.

Does your garden reflect your fantasies? Do your plants make visitors think of Dr. Seuss or Harry Potter?