Despite the fact that the Netherland is the world’s leading grower of tulips, did you know that tulips are NOT native there? Tulips are native to the mountains of Turkey and Russia! So how did tulips get from there to the Netherlands? In the late 1500s, the ambassador to the courts of Suleiman the Magnificent … Read more
In the spring, I sit on my deck and admire the peonies in the back of my yard. I watch the occasional deer walk by—and keep on walking. They don’t eat them! I cut a few buds to bring inside because the fragrance is wonderful. I appreciate the beauty that they have brought to my … Read more
Daffodils are one of the first flowers we learn to recognize as children. Maybe we called them “Daffy-down-dillies” or “Jonquils.” Their correct botanical name is Narcissus; the correct common name is ‘daffodil’. Jonquil refers to a specific kind of Narcissus/Daffodil. Daffodils are divided into thirteen different groups, depending on flower shape. They come in large … Read more
September 23 is the Autumnal Equinox. The Autumnal Equinox occurs when the sun is directly in line with the equator. On this day, the day and the night are of equal length. From now until the Winter Solstice on December 21, the hours of dark will be longer than the hours of daylight every day. … Read more
I’m one of those people who believe that onions and garlic make everything taste better. If a recipe calls for half an onion, I figure adding the whole onion will make it better. Same with garlic. And since fall is a perfect time to plant onions and garlic—and we just got fresh garlic and onions … Read more
Our fabulous assortment of spring-blooming bulbs just came in and I’ve already had a lot of questions. Here is What You Need to Know Buy bulbs now for the best selection but hold off on planting most bulbs until October. The exceptions would be bearded iris rhizomes, fall-blooming crocus, lycoris and colchicum which should be planted right … Read more
Fresh German bearded iris rhizomes just came in so here are a few interesting facts about these beautiful perennials. The word ‘iris’ come from the Greek word for ‘rainbow.’ Since iris come in such a wide variety of colors, that‘s pretty appropriate. There is a Fresco painting of iris on the island of Crete that … Read more
Fall is less than a month away! (Gosh, I feel like summer just got here–) It’s time to begin thinking about how to get the most from your fall garden. Here are some suggestions. Plant pansies and violas: One of the most popular cool-season flowers, they’re available in a wide range of colors. They’ll bloom most … Read more
My blog last week was about Milkweeds—a host plant for Monarch butterflies. I had several questions this past week about other host plants so thought I’d repost this blog from a couple of years ago. I get so many questions about what flowers to plant for a “butterfly” garden. Well, if we don’t start planting … Read more
Did you know the Monarch butterfly population has declined 90% in the last 20 years? The destruction of native prairies and grasslands, as well as the widespread use of commercial weed killers, has decimated the population of native milkweed—the only plant Monarch butterflies will lay eggs on. You can help. By incorporating milkweed into your … Read more
