SUMMER OFFICIALLY STARTS THIS MONTH AND WE HAVE SOME VERY IMPORTANT GARDENING CHORES TO DO THIS MONTH. Before we get into June I want to do a little re-capping of the weather we had in May. May was 6 degrees warmer than average. I certainly believe this after the heatwave we had the last few … Read more
WITH WARMER DAYS COMES THE CROP OF BUGGY PESTS Here we are the end of May after Memorial Day weekend and the “unofficial” start of summer. And, hotter days. Unfortunately, it is also the beginning of bugs on our plants and flowers. It is frustrating to watch plants we’ve struggled so hard to get going … Read more
ABSENCE MAKES THE HEART GROW FONDER FOR OUR BELOVED HYDRANGEAS Many customers have recently come into the garden center so excited that their blue hydrangeas are in bud and bloom for the first time in two or three years. This past couple of years so many customers were wondering why and if they did something … Read more
STACHYS ‘HUMMELO’ IS THE CHOSEN ONE. SOME GARDENERS MAY CALL IT BETONY. Many of you may not know that every year the Perennial Plant Association selects a perennial to highlight. The chosen perennial is voted on by hundreds of growers, designers, and perennial plant geeks. The winner is a good plant that is hardy in … Read more
HANGING BASKETS ARE A STAPLE WHEN DECORATING PORCHES, PATIOS, DECKS. Now that it is May, blooming and foliage hanging baskets are very popular with most all homeowners and with people living in apartment complexes. And, for good reason: Hanging baskets are an instant way to add color and pizzazz to your outdoor spaces. There are … Read more
Wow!! Thank you, April!!! Now on to May with needed gardening chores. Let me take a minute to re-cap April. I have been in this business for a “few” years and I do not recall ever having an April where we did not experience a frost. We went the entire month of April without any … Read more
PLANTS FOR GOOD NECTAR SOURCES. Now that we are approaching the end of April and summer will be here before we know, it’s that time of year when butterflies begin to visit our gardens to feed and help pollinate our plants. Matter of fact, I am seeing quite a few butterflies in the nursery enjoying … Read more
Virginia is bursting with color right now!! Here we are in mid-April and what a beautiful time to be living in Virginia with all the shrubs and trees in bloom or coming into bloom. Just to re-cap our weather: Approximately, April 20, is our average last frost date. So far in April, we have not … Read more
WHAT ARE NATIVE PLANTS & WHY SHOULD I CONSIDER PLANTING THEM? There is some confusion when determining if, or how, a plant is considered “native.” In my opinion, the best definition for a “native” comes from the Virginia Native Plant Society: “Native plants are those that were growing here when the settlers first arrived and … Read more
A LOT OF GARDENING ACTIVITIES AND CHORES FOR APRIL Finally, April has arrived. March ended on a high note with warming temperatures and some rain on the last day. As we begin in April, I think we need to re-cap March. March was much more traditional when it came to temperatures and rainfall, especially when … Read more
