In Greek mythology, Iris was a messenger from the gods who traveled to earth on a rainbow. Wherever she stepped, flowers sprang up. Iris means ‘rainbow’—appropriate when bearded iris comes in a vast array of colors from pure white to purple/black—and nearly every color in between. The three upright petals on an iris flower stand … Read more
I’ve had so many customers looking for late summer color—some because they just decided they want to accent that deck, patio or porch, and others because their summer annuals are starting to look a little “tired.” They want pretty fall colors. Pansies and mums are reliable favorites for fall color. There are other plants that … Read more
Did you know August is National Happiness Happens Month? I didn’t either until a customer told me and I looked it up. There it is—in black and white—“August is National Happiness Happens Month.” It did start me thinking about what makes me happy in my garden—the first bloom on my rose; every single solitary fragrant … Read more
Right now I’m inundated with tomatoes and zucchini. I’m sure my neighbors want to run when they see me heading their way with a bag of veggies in hand. But I have no more room on the kitchen counter! And how many loaves of zucchini bread can you eat anyway? And, yet, in the midst of … Read more
I’ve had so many customers come in recently with tomatoes in their hands because they have a problem with the fruit. If you’re growing tomatoes, here is a list of what you may find, the cause, and how to mitigate the problem. Blossom End Rot Blossom end rot is water-soaked lesions at the bottom of … Read more
One of the big “catch-phrases” you hear a lot is “sustainable” gardening. What is sustainable gardening exactly? The goal of sustainable gardening is to leave the environment in the same or in better shape than it already was—and to try to use as few products as possible to keep it that way Remember water is … Read more
Whether you’re a brand new gardener or you’ve gardened for many years, knowing the garden terms below will help you be a better gardener and get superior results. Why? Because knowing these terms helps you understand how to create the best growing conditions. Knowing these terms also helps you ask better questions when talking with … Read more
If you’re like me, you had your houseplants outside back in May. I know they love the fresh air circulation, better light, and great humidity—it reminds them of “home.” I love seeing all the bright green new growth and it’s nice not to have to pick up yellow leaves from the living room floor where … Read more
Okay, so you’ve got all your veggies planted. Now what? There are still some things to be done to ensure you get the harvest you want: Don’t Let Weeds Get Ahead of You With all the rain we’ve had recently, weeds have already begun to pop up even in my raised beds and pots. Get … Read more
As I tiptoed through various gardening groups on Facebook these past few days, I saw several people asking how to kill ants in the yard. So I thought I’d remind us all to what they actually do. (Besides march across our kitchen counters, climb all over our deck furniture, and leave anthills in the middle … Read more
