I’ve pulled up all my spent summer veggies—the tomatoes that didn’t have one more bud left on them, the squash that looked, well, squashed and the last crop of bush beans that just didn’t have any bean left. I’ve already planted some fall vegetables—I have some fat little kale plants, Brussels sprouts, and broccoli in … Read more
October is Bat Appreciation Month. Bats have gotten a bad rap over the years from writers of horror fiction, but they are actually good guys. They are not only pollinators but an outstanding source of pest control. Here are some cool facts about these fellow mammals. Bats are the only mammals that fly. There are … Read more
This is the time of year to get my all-time favorite flowers–Amaryllis. Well, actually, what we call ‘amaryllis’ are really ‘hippeastrum’–members of the amaryllis family. The plants that are technically ‘amaryllis’ are the Amaryllis Belladonna and relatives, however, hippeastrum has been called ‘amaryllis’ for so long, that we’ll never be able to get people to … Read more
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
