Every winter I hear customers complaining about long gray winter days and bored kids. There are some fun indoor gardening activities you can use to occupy your kids, as well as teaching them a little something about gardening—and maybe even getting them to “know” their vegetables a little more. And, even better, they’re fun for … Read more
Orchids are one of the most popular blooming plants given for Valentine’s Day. With Valentine’s Day coming soon, here are a few interesting facts about orchids. Orchids are the largest family of blooming plants with over 27,000 naturally occurring species. Orchids are native to every continent in the world with the exception of Antarctica, leading … Read more
On Saturday, Punxsutawney Phil predicted an early spring. So what is a Groundhog, anyway? A groundhog is a rodent, related to marmots (ground squirrels) and squirrels. They’re also known as woodchucks. The word “woodchuck” comes from the Native American word “Wojak” which was the name for a groundhog. Groundhogs are common animals in the Northern … Read more
Growing citrus trees indoors is fun and easy. I have a Meyer lemon, a key lime, and two kumquats in my spare room right now. So here are a few interesting facts: Citrus is native to Southeast Asia and was introduced to the Americas by Spanish travelers. The world’s leading producers of citrus are Brazil, … Read more
There’s not a lot to look at outside this time of year. Maybe that’s why I enjoy watching the birds. Of course, the best way to attract birds is with bird-feeders. And I like knowing that it helps the birds, too. A study conducted during a Wisconsin winter showing that black-capped chickadees with access to human-supplied bird seed … Read more
I get it. January and February are b-o-r-i-n-g! The Christmas tree has come down, the fresh wreath is now tossed, and the poinsettias are dropping leaves every day. And when you look out the windows, there’s nothing much to see—unless you like dim gray winter skies. But there are some ways to brighten up your … Read more
Cacti and succulents are really “in” right now. And they should be. They’re fun, interesting, and easy to grow. The word “succulent” comes from the Latin word “sucus” meaning sap or juice. All succulents contain specially evolved cells in their roots, stems or leaves that absorb and retain water. That’s because they’ve evolved in areas … Read more
I resolved to be better about feeding my garden during the growing season. Fast-growing summer annuals and vegetables need to be fed but I usually get so bogged down in just trying to keep things watered and weeded in the heat, that I forget. How did I do? Better—but not great. I did get an … Read more
This Friday, December 21st, is 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 begin getting longer by a minute or two each day. Many cultures around the world have celebrated the … Read more
One of the plants often given as a gift this time of years is Rosemary, so here’s what you need to know: Rosmarinus officinalis is native to the Mediterranean. It’s a member of the Lamaceae family—which includes oregano, basil, thyme and mint. Wild rosemary can be found growing on the rocky cliffs along the coasts … Read more
