MOTHER’S DAY IS THIS SUNDAY, MAY 14TH Mother’s Day was started in 1908 and became an official U.S. holiday in 1914. The holiday traditionally involves presenting Mom with flowers and a card. The botanical name for peonies is Paeonia. They are native to Asia and Europe. The history of peonies goes back to ancient days … Read more
HERE WE ARE IN 2023 AND EDIBLE GARDENING IS STRONGER THAN EVER I wrote on this topic a few years ago. The idea of edible landscaping was just becoming popular. Jump to 2023 and edible landscaping is thriving with homeowners. I want to share my personal story: At my previous house I had my vegetable … Read more
GOOD OR BAD? IT DEPENDS Lately, homeowners have been coming into the garden center to talk about moss they have discovered growing in their lawns. Most want to know why and what they can do to eliminate the moss. Some other homeowners are OK with having a moss-covered yard. Here are some primary reasons why … Read more
SHOULD WE BE RECOMMENDING PLANTING BOXWOODS IN OUR LANDSCAPE? Should we be planting boxwoods knowing that boxwood blight is prevalent in Central Virginia? My answer to customers who ask this question is YES, but with a different mindset when choosing boxwood varieties. There is no question that people need to be concerned about boxwood blight … Read more
RUDBECKIA AMERICAN GOLD RUSH Rudbeckia is more commonly called Black-Eyed Susan. The Perennial Plant Association chooses a perennial to honor each year that is suitable for a wide range of growing climates, requires low maintenance, have multi-season interests, and is relatively pest and disease free. To me, this variety of Black Eyed Susan fits the … Read more
ARE YOU READY TO START PLANTING? Here we are in mid-March. Up to this point, our winter has been the perfect storm. We have experienced a mild winter with just a few frigid days. And we have had weekly rainfall. Our ground soil is moist and warm for this time of year. So many of … Read more
HOW EARTHWORMS BENEFIT OUR SOIL Some people are freaked out when they see earthworms. Earthworms aren’t everybody’s favorite. I get that. But having earthworms in your soil is an excellent sign in many ways. Earthworms provide many benefits to healthy, productive soils, and wise gardeners do everything they can to maintain healthy populations of earthworms … Read more
PAWPAW TREE IS BECOMING A FAVORITE UNDERSTORY TREE TO PLANT IN VIRGINIA Pawpaw, or Asimina triloba, is considered a native tree by the Virginia Native Plant Society. The fruit of the pawpaw was consumed by both Native Americans and early European settlers. At least two U.S. Presidents enjoyed pawpaw fruit. George Washington reportedly enjoyed them … Read more
The reason I chose Aloe Vera as my houseplant highlight is simple. Aloe Vera is popular with homeowners and relatively easy to grow. One reason for its popularity is its medicinal use. Aloe Vera plants have been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years. Cleopatra is reputed to have used Aloe gel in her … Read more
ENHANCE YOUR LIFE WITH PLANTS This is our 15th year of highlighting houseplants during the month of February. Let our Professional Staff assist you. We pride ourselves on carrying the best and largest selection of tropical plants in the Richmond area. Have you ever considered going indoors to “get a breath of fresh air?” It’s … Read more
