So, this past Thursday was the Spring Equinox! What does that mean for your garden? Important – Keep This in Mind We must remember that our last REGULAR frost here is usually between April 9th and April 20th. However, according to the National Weather Service, we got down to 32 degrees five years ago on … Read more
Today is St. Patrick’s Day! Did you get a shamrock as a gift or treat yourself to one? Here are five interesting facts about them: The average of finding a four-leafed clover is about one in 10,000! A Japanese farmer, Shigio Obara, bred a clover with 56 leaves. “I never dreamed of seeing this many … Read more
The first plant I ever got was a division of a plant from my great-aunt Flora. It was called a Stapelia. Aunt Flora told me it was a cactus. I had no clue how to take care of it, but she gave me instructions. So how do you take care of a cactus? Cacti or … Read more
One of the most commonly grown houseplants is the Peace Lily, so here are some interesting facts about it. The botanical name Spathiphyllum comes from the Greek words phyllo, meaning leaf, and Spathe, which means flowering bract. The Peace Lily is on NASA’s list of the top ten air-cleaning houseplants. It can help filter benzene, … Read more
Five Ways to Kill a Houseplant Don’t worry about finding out what conditions your new plant needs. Put it anywhere you like. If the tag or the person who sold you that plant says sun, go ahead and put it in that dark corner behind the couch. Don’t bother checking the soil to see if … Read more
Every week, I write blogs about what you should be doing for a particular plant in your garden. This week, it’s different. It’s what you could be doing if you’re a bit of a mad scientist in the garden like I am. So here’s a blog on growing pineapples. A Guide for Growing Pineapples Buy … Read more
Last week, I mentioned that you can pick out your favorite seeds now. This week, I’ll discuss seeds you can start now. Starting Cool Season Veggies You can start cool-season veggies now. You can plant lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, spinach, and Brussels sprout seeds indoors in February and transplant the seedlings outside at the … Read more
So what’s a gardener to do in February? There are some things I can do now to be ready. Gardening Tasks for February Check our selection of seeds or, if there is some variety we don’t have, check a gardening catalog: Get your favorites now, in case they sell out later. If you’re like me … Read more
When I was a kid, one of the first plants I noticed was my grandma’s African Violet. It even had a name—Jenny (it was given to her by a friend who had a daughter named Jennifer). I loved the pink flowers and the fuzzy leaves. A Few Interesting Facts About African Violets African Violets are … Read more
Ficus trees are great indoor plants—if you’ve got what they need. Well, isn’t that true of most plants? There are many to choose from: Weeping Figs, Rubber Trees, and Fiddle Leaf Figs, among others. I have a weeping fig, one of the first plants I have ever bought. I used to worry over every yellow … Read more
