ARE YOU READY FOR SPRING? So far, Mother Nature has been very kind to us this winter. I have been following the weather very closely since the beginning of January. We had our sixth warmest January on record. We had weekly rainfall in January and February, keeping our soil moist and our rivers and reservoirs … Read more
Today, February 27th is National Strawberry Day. Of course, for me, every day is Strawberry Day because I LOVE them. Fun Facts About Strawberries! Here are a few interesting facts about Strawberries for National Strawberry Day: Their botanical name is Fragaria—after the Latin Fragra meaning fragrant. Nobody is exactly sure how they got the name … Read more
PAWPAW TREE IS BECOMING A FAVORITE UNDERSTORY TREE TO PLANT IN VIRGINIA Pawpaw, or Asimina triloba, is considered a native tree by the Virginia Native Plant Society. The fruit of the pawpaw was consumed by both Native Americans and early European settlers. At least two U.S. Presidents enjoyed pawpaw fruit. George Washington reportedly enjoyed them … Read more
Every year, about this time, I get hit with many questions from people who have started seeds indoors. Here are some of the most common questions I get asked: “Why are my seedlings long and floppy?” Long, weak stems resulting from inadequate light is called etiolation. There is only one fix for this condition—more light. … Read more
The reason I chose Aloe Vera as my houseplant highlight is simple. Aloe Vera is popular with homeowners and relatively easy to grow. One reason for its popularity is its medicinal use. Aloe Vera plants have been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years. Cleopatra is reputed to have used Aloe gel in her … Read more
That beautiful hellebore (aka Lenten Rose) that grace my garden in winter has a long, somewhat violent history. In one of the first recorded instances of biological warfare, the Grecian army used massive quantities of hellebores to poison the water supply of the city of Kirrha in 585 B.C. The townspeople were so overcome with … Read more
ENHANCE YOUR LIFE WITH PLANTS TROPICAL PLANTS ARE MORE THAN JUST DECORATIVE ACCENTS IN OUR HOME OR OFFICE This is our 15th year with highlighting houseplants during the month of February. Let our Professional Staff assist you. We pride ourselves with carrying the best and largest selection of tropical plants in the Richmond area. Have … Read more
So you just bought a new plant—or you’ve got one at home that isn’t doing what you think it ought to be doing. These are some things you should not do: Don’t repot a stressed plant. That’s just adding to the stress. The exception would be a broken pot or a plant that has major … Read more
SPRING WILL OFFICIALLY BE HERE IN APPROXIMATELY 46 DAYS GROUNDHOG DAY JUST HAPPENED: GROUNDHOG POPS US (Sung to: “I’m a little teapot”) HERE’S A LITTLE GROUNDHOG, FURRY AND BROWN, HE’S POPPING UP TO LOOK AROUND. IF HE SEES HIS SHADOW, DOWN HE’LL GO. THEN SIX MORE WEEKS OF WINTER – OH NO!! So, did he … Read more
This coming Thursday is Groundhog’s Day. So here are a few interesting facts about Groundhogs. Groundhogs are also known as Woodchucks. The name “Woodchuck” has nothing to do with wood at all. It is based on the Native American word for them which is “Wuchak.” Groundhogs (Marmot monax) are not related to hogs at all, but … Read more
