Today, February 27th is National Strawberry Day. Of course, for me, every day is Strawberry Day because I LOVE them. Fun Facts About Strawberries! Here are a few interesting facts about Strawberries for National Strawberry Day: Their botanical name is Fragaria—after the Latin Fragra meaning fragrant. Nobody is exactly sure how they got the name … Read more
Every year, about this time, I get hit with many questions from people who have started seeds indoors. Here are some of the most common questions I get asked: “Why are my seedlings long and floppy?” Long, weak stems resulting from inadequate light is called etiolation. There is only one fix for this condition—more light. … Read more
That beautiful hellebore (aka Lenten Rose) that grace my garden in winter has a long, somewhat violent history. In one of the first recorded instances of biological warfare, the Grecian army used massive quantities of hellebores to poison the water supply of the city of Kirrha in 585 B.C. The townspeople were so overcome with … Read more
So you just bought a new plant—or you’ve got one at home that isn’t doing what you think it ought to be doing. These are some things you should not do: Don’t repot a stressed plant. That’s just adding to the stress. The exception would be a broken pot or a plant that has major … Read more
This coming Thursday is Groundhog’s Day. So here are a few interesting facts about Groundhogs. Groundhogs are also known as Woodchucks. The name “Woodchuck” has nothing to do with wood at all. It is based on the Native American word for them which is “Wuchak.” Groundhogs (Marmot monax) are not related to hogs at all, but … Read more
This is a great time to start thinking about starting seeds. Seed packets will tell you to start six to eight weeks before your average last frost date for tomatoes and peppers. Some people will tell you mid-April is our last frost date. I’ll remind you that last year we had frost after the first … Read more
As I was going through the seed racks here to pick out a few favorites to start indoors in a couple of weeks, I decided to do a blog on my favorite varieties. Two words you need to know first—determinate and indeterminate. A determinate tomato is a BUSH—it produces a large crop in a shorter … Read more
Outside If you have any flowers, trees, or shrubs in pots, do remember to check them for water every week or so—you may not need to water, but at least check them. We have dry spells even in winter. This especially holds true for plant in pots under overhangs or on covered porches (rain doesn’t … Read more
This Thursday, January 5th, is National Bird Day, so let’s talk about feeding them. Because there aren’t many insects available over the winter, most of the birds that winter here are seed eaters. Some seeds are better than others, however. Seeds and nuts with a higher fat content are best for winter feeding—black oil sunflower … Read more
When it comes to winter, people’s opinions seem to fall into one of two camps—“Bring it on—the more, the better,” or, “When’s the next plane to Florida?” My oldest son falls into the first camp. I don’t think he’ll be totally satisfied until we get at least three feet of snow. He’s been to Mount … Read more
