I heard the term Green Deserts from a long-time customer at The Great Big Greenhouse. She was bemoaning the fact that she had a yard full of flowers, yet saw almost no bees or butterflies. She said she thought it was because she lived in the middle of a green desert. My Green Desert I … Read more
I’m forever trying to get an earlier tomato. I start my seeds indoors no later than the middle of March. Lacking a greenhouse or cold-frame, I start them indoors in a sunny window in my spare bedroom and have nice sized transplants ready to plant outside—but when? Most people say our last frost is around … Read more
Over the years, I’ve learned some weird, wacky, and strange facts about plants, so I thought I’d share some with you. Did you know that some of our favorite fruits are related to roses? That’s right—apples, peaches, pears, strawberries, cherries, raspberries, blackberries, and almonds are all members of the rose family! That broccoli you had … Read more
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
