It’s no secret that I’m not a winter fan. I miss my garden. I miss sitting on the deck on a summer evening watching the fireflies light up my garden. In spring I can nibble on a peppery leaf of arugula or a crisp sugar snap pea and in the summer, a handful of cherry … Read more
Interesting Tidbits about Some Favorite Houseplants With February being Houseplant Month, I thought I’d share some odd and interesting facts I’ve discovered over years about some of my favorite plants. Peace Lilies They’re so pretty with their white flowers but did you know Peace Lilies are not lilies at all but are related to Chinese … Read more
February is houseplant month here at the Great Big Greenhouse. Not only do we have free seminars every Saturday, but we offer free repotting of your houseplants, too. So how do you know your houseplants need repotting? If you find that you’re having to water a lot more often, that’s usually a clue the plant … Read more
It’s that time of year again. New 2020 dated seeds have arrived and I’m so ready for spring (actually I was ready for spring in October). 3 Great Seed Companies At the Great Big Greenhouse, we carry seeds from three companies: Botanical Interests because of their dedication to quality, great selection of regular and organic … Read more
January 21st is Squirrel Appreciation Day. So here are some interesting facts about these cute (and sometimes annoying) little critters. A squirrel’s front teeth never stop growing. This is true of many rodents. As a matter of fact, the word “rodent” comes from the Latin word “rodere” which means to gnaw. A group of squirrels … Read more
This time of year, I watch the birds. I also feed them. Most of the birds that winter in Virginia are seed eaters. Some seeds are better than others, however. Seeds and nuts with a higher fat content are best for winter feeding—black oil sunflower seeds and peanuts, for example. What to Offer Your Feathered Friends and What to … Read more
How many New Year’s resolutions do we actually keep? You go to the gym in January and there’s always a waiting line for the first available treadmill. By March, not only is there no line, but there are several vacant treadmills waiting. My Three 2020 Garden Resolutions I’m better at keeping the ones I make … Read more
Saturday, December 21st, was 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 be getting longer by a minute or two each day. Many cultures around the world have celebrated the Winter … Read more
In the past couple of weeks, I’ve had numerous people ask me how to care for the holiday plants they either received or bought for Christmas, so here is a quick guide. Poinsettias Take them out of foil they came in or poke holes in the foil so they can drain well. Keep them in … Read more
This coming Wednesday, December 12th, is National Poinsettia Day. So here are four interesting facts about everyone’s favorite holiday flower. 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 1820s, sent home to South Carolina cuttings of a … Read more
