In the spring, I sit on my deck and admire the peonies in the back of my yard. I watch the occasional deer walk by—and keep on walking. They don’t eat them! I cut a few buds to bring inside because the fragrance is wonderful. I appreciate the beauty that they have brought to my … Read more
OCTOBER IS A BUSY GARDENING MONTH WHEN IT COMES TO PLANTING Usually, my first blog of the month is about important gardening chores that need to be done in the month. However, I feel the need to address the seriousness of our drought conditions and the importance of watering. The blog on ‘Gardening Chores for … Read more
Daffodils are one of the first flowers we learn to recognize as children. Maybe we called them “Daffy-down-dillies” or “Jonquils.” Their correct botanical name is Narcissus; the correct common name is ‘daffodil’. Jonquil refers to a specific kind of Narcissus/Daffodil. Daffodils are divided into thirteen different groups, depending on flower shape. They come in large … Read more
A TERRARIUM IS A FUN WAY TO ENJOY INDOOR PLANTS WITH LITTLE MAINTENANCE Terrariums are miniature plant habitats, especially useful for growing plants with high humidity requirements. Our present-day terrariums, from the utilitarian fish tank to more decorative glass containers, are direct descendants of the Victorian Era “Wardian Cases,” large containers used to grow or … Read more
September 23 is the Autumnal Equinox. The Autumnal Equinox occurs when the sun is directly in line with the equator. On this day, the day and the night are of equal length. From now until the Winter Solstice on December 21, the hours of dark will be longer than the hours of daylight every day. … Read more
SUMMER VACATION TIME IS OVER FOR OUR HOUSEPLANTS TO BE OUTSIDE Here we are in late September and fall is officially here on the 23rd. It’s time to be thinking about prepping our tropical houseplants to come back inside. This Saturday is FALL GARDENER’S FAIR – OUR HOUSEPLANT EXPERTS WILL BE CONDUCTING A FREE EDUCATIONAL … Read more
I’m one of those people who believe that onions and garlic make everything taste better. If a recipe calls for half an onion, I figure adding the whole onion will make it better. Same with garlic. And since fall is a perfect time to plant onions and garlic—and we just got fresh garlic and onions … Read more
Pachira aquatic, better known as the “Money Tree,” is an easy-care, low-maintenance houseplant. This plant gets its name because the Feng Shui practice believes that a Money Tree, when properly placed in a home or business, brings prosperity and good fortune. They are usually found with their trunk braided. The top of the Money Tree … Read more
Our fabulous assortment of spring-blooming bulbs just came in and I’ve already had a lot of questions. Here is What You Need to Know Buy bulbs now for the best selection but hold off on planting most bulbs until October. The exceptions would be bearded iris rhizomes, fall-blooming crocus, lycoris and colchicum which should be planted right … Read more
Fresh German bearded iris rhizomes just came in so here are a few interesting facts about these beautiful perennials. The word ‘iris’ come from the Greek word for ‘rainbow.’ Since iris come in such a wide variety of colors, that‘s pretty appropriate. There is a Fresco painting of iris on the island of Crete that … Read more
