AUGUST IS THE GATEWAY TO THE FALL PLANTING SEASON & THE GATES ARE OPENING Here we are in the last full week of August. What a month August has been, especially when it comes to rainfall. It has been a record month. And, most of our plants are very grateful for all this water, especially … Read more
In Greek mythology, Iris was a messenger from the gods who traveled to earth on a rainbow. Wherever she stepped, flowers sprang up. Iris means ‘rainbow’—appropriate when bearded iris comes in a vast array of colors from pure white to purple/black—and nearly every color in between. The three upright petals on an iris flower stand … Read more
SOME THOUGHTS AS TO WHY WE GARDEN, ESPECIALLY THIS YEAR Here we are in mid-August and we are all struggling to understand and accept what has happened to our daily lives these past six months. One thing that is very evident to me is that more people and families have turned to the garden as … Read more
I’ve had so many customers looking for late summer color—some because they just decided they want to accent that deck, patio or porch, and others because their summer annuals are starting to look a little “tired.” They want pretty fall colors. Pansies and mums are reliable favorites for fall color. There are other plants that … Read more
NORMAL. SUCH A SIMPLE WORD BUT WHAT DOES THIS MEAN ANYMORE WHEN IT COMES TO PLANTS AND GARDENING? As I write this blog, Virginia and the entire U.S. is in the process of trying to re-open from the Great Shutdown brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic. It seems that our local, state and national news … Read more
Did you know August is National Happiness Happens Month? I didn’t either until a customer told me and I looked it up. There it is—in black and white—“August is National Happiness Happens Month.” It did start me thinking about what makes me happy in my garden—the first bloom on my rose; every single solitary fragrant … Read more
Right now I’m inundated with tomatoes and zucchini. I’m sure my neighbors want to run when they see me heading their way with a bag of veggies in hand. But I have no more room on the kitchen counter! And how many loaves of zucchini bread can you eat anyway? And, yet, in the midst of … Read more
What a difference a year can make. Last year we experienced above-average rainfall for the month and below-average temperatures for July. But not this year! Here we are in the last week of July and we are experiencing a hot and dry July. So, why do we refer to this time of year as the … Read more
I’ve had so many customers come in recently with tomatoes in their hands because they have a problem with the fruit. If you’re growing tomatoes, here is a list of what you may find, the cause, and how to mitigate the problem. Blossom End Rot Blossom end rot is water-soaked lesions at the bottom of … Read more
One of the big “catch-phrases” you hear a lot is “sustainable” gardening. What is sustainable gardening exactly? The goal of sustainable gardening is to leave the environment in the same or in better shape than it already was—and to try to use as few products as possible to keep it that way Remember water is … Read more
