DEER-LEERIOUS – PLANTS DEER DO NOT LIKE TO EAT A couple of weeks ago my blog was on AMERICAN BEAUTY NATIVE PLANT lines that we carry and are very popular. This week I am highlighting the DEER-LEERIOUS line of plants that we are carrying for the first time this spring. The plants chosen to be … Read more
When I was a child, I was terrified of praying mantises. I thought they looked like little mini-space aliens. And I really didn’t like the way they’d turn their head to look right at you. As an adult, I developed a respect for these hungry little predators. Praying mantises are related to cockroaches and termites. … Read more
DO YOU HAVE AZALEAS AND CAMELLIA SHRUBS? This past week I have had two different guests come into the garden center with samples of gall on their azaleas. Not to make light of this disease but I love using the tagline “you have some gall” with our guests. We both laugh. On a serious note, … Read more
A couple of weeks ago, I did a blog on repelling mosquitoes. I had a customer come in and say her biggest problem was not mosquitoes—it was squirrels. So here’s how to live with them. First, Some Interesting Facts The word ‘squirrel’ comes from the Anglo-Norman word “esquirel’ meaning ‘shadow-tailed.’ They are native to every … Read more
MY NATIVE PLANT PICK FOR MAY My AMERICAN BEAUTIES NATIVE PLANT pick for May is … ITEA virginica ‘HENRY’S GARNET’. You may know this plant by its common name – VIRGINIA SWEETSPIRE. Are you familiar with the American Beauties Native Plants? We have been carrying this line of plants for a few years now. Each … Read more
I just got all my veggies planted. I can put up my feet and relax now, right? Well—no. So here’s what I need to do now: Keep Weeding Right now, weeds are already popping up in my freshly planted raised beds. If I slack off, they get out of hand fast, so I’ll check every … Read more
MAY IS FINALLY HERE. IT IS A PERFECT TIME TO GET OUTSIDE AND DO SOME GARDENING As for the month of April, unfortunately, it turned out to be a challenging month for gardeners. April’s weather was up and down. April stayed a little dry for us until around the 20th when we got over an … Read more
I’m getting so many people these days looking for plants that repel mosquitoes, so here you go: Citronella Citronella-scented geraniums are pretty, lacy-leaved members of the geranium family that contain citronella oil. Mosquitoes don’t like them. Other lemon-scented herbs that also contain citronella oil are lemon thyme, lemon balm, and lemongrass. The lemongrass and citronella-scented … Read more
NATIONAL ARBOR DAY IS THIS FRIDAY, APRIL 29TH National Arbor Day is a day set aside to celebrate the value that trees add to our lives and to promote tree planting and care. Now, for this tag line, “JUST DON’T STAND THERE, PLANT SOMETHING”, I want to give a shout-out and credit to a colleague, … Read more
It is almost May. All danger of frost is past—mostly. Another week or two and it will be time to move my houseplants outside. How to Move Houseplants Outside Safely In the 36 years I’ve been with the Great Big Greenhouse, do you know how many customers I’ve seen bring in leaves or pictures of … Read more
