BIRDING IS THE COUNTRY’S SECOND-MOST POPULAR OUTDOOR PASTIME (AFTER GARDENING) Winter will be here, officially, in just a few days. But, we have already experienced some cold weather and snow already here in Central Virginia. How about all that snow last week? Just imagine what it must be like for our feathered friends. How do … Read more
This Friday, December 21st, is the Winter Solstice—the shortest day of the year; the first official day of Winter; Yule. The days, which have been getting shorter and shorter each day since the Summer Solstice, now will begin getting longer by a minute or two each day. Many cultures around the world have celebrated the … Read more
SHOPPING FOR GARDENERS MADE EASY BY COMING TO THE GREAT BIG GREENHOUSE & MEADOWS FARMS NURSERIES T’is the season. All of us here at The Great Big Greenhouse invite you to come and shop for unique gardening gifts. The sky is the limit when it comes to finding new and unique gifts for that gardener … Read more
One of the plants often given as a gift this time of years is Rosemary, so here’s what you need to know: Rosmarinus officinalis is native to the Mediterranean. It’s a member of the Lamaceae family—which includes oregano, basil, thyme and mint. Wild rosemary can be found growing on the rocky cliffs along the coasts … Read more
LAST MONTH OF THE YEAR – CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?!! Here we are in December. Mother Nature has been very kind to us when it comes to all the rain this year. We NEVER want our plants to be dry going into any cold snap. I have a soil thermometer that I check regularly. As … Read more
Hanging a sprig of mistletoe over your door this holiday season? Here are some interesting facts about this holiday staple. The botanical name for mistletoe is “phoradendron” which means tree thief. While mistletoe is capable of performing photosynthesis, it more commonly grows as a parasite, sending roots down into a tree to leech nutrients away. … Read more
IT’S OFFICIAL…CHRISTMAS SEASON IS HERE. LET’S KEEP IT REAL!! Thanksgiving has passed and December is fast approaching. We are officially entering the holiday season. Buying a Christmas tree is on everyone’s mind. It is fun to learn some background facts when it comes to our fresh trees and greenery that we use for holiday decorating. … Read more
I love paperwhites. They are easy to bloom—and fast! What’s more, they are inexpensive and beautiful. Narcissus papyraceus—paperwhites—are native to the western Mediterranean from Greece to Portugal to Morocco. They are a variety of daffodil. Even though they are a daffodil, they are not winter hardy here in Virginia. They will bloom easily in a … Read more
STROLL OUTDOORS TO FIND MATERIALS FOR YOUR HOLIDAY DECORATIONS Thanksgiving is here so now is the time to concentrate on decorating your home for the upcoming Christmas season. Finding the right materials to decorate for the holidays is as easy as taking a stroll through your gardens. Personally, I find it so rewarding to use … Read more
We are surrounded by beautiful poinsettias right now so here are some interesting tidbits about them: Poinsettia, botanically Euphorbia Pulcherrima, is named for Dr. Joel Roberts Poinsett, the first U.S minister to Mexico. He was an avid amateur botanist who, in the 1820’s, sent home to South Carolina cuttings of a beautiful plant he’d seen … Read more
