I’m one of those people who believe that onions and garlic make everything taste better. If a recipe calls for half an onion, I figure adding the whole onion will make it better. Same with garlic. And since fall is a perfect time to plant onions and garlic—and we just got fresh garlic and onions … Read more
Pachira aquatic, better known as “Money tree” is an easy-care, low maintenance houseplant. This plant gets its name because the Feng Shui practice believes that a Money Tree, when properly placed in a home or business, brings prosperity and good fortune. They are usually found with its trunk braided. The top of the Money Tree … Read more
Our fabulous assortment of spring-blooming bulbs just came in and I’ve already had a lot of questions. Here is What You Need to Know Buy bulbs now for the best selection but hold off on planting most bulbs until October. The exceptions would be bearded iris rhizomes, fall-blooming crocus, lycoris and colchicum which should be planted right … Read more
Fresh German bearded iris rhizomes just came in so here are a few interesting facts about these beautiful perennials. The word ‘iris’ come from the Greek word for ‘rainbow.’ Since iris come in such a wide variety of colors, that‘s pretty appropriate. There is a Fresco painting of iris on the island of Crete that … Read more
TREES HELP OUR ENVIRONMENT September is here in just a few days. September is the month that kicks off the FALL IS FOR PLANTING season. Fall is the best time to plant shade trees. After all the hot days this past couple of months, shade can make life in Virginia more bearable. One strong reason … Read more
Fall is less than a month away! (Gosh, I feel like summer just got here–) It’s time to begin thinking about how to get the most from your fall garden. Here are some suggestions. Plant pansies and violas: One of the most popular cool-season flowers, they’re available in a wide range of colors. They’ll bloom most … Read more
AS PROMISED IN LAST WEEKS’ BLOG – HERE IS INFORMATION TO HELP WITH YOUR PLANTING There is a lot of wisdom in the title of this blog. Many issues with a plant’s performance can be avoided by simply planting properly. FALL IS FOR PLANTING My mission in writing this blog is solely educational and, in … Read more
My blog last week was about Milkweeds—a host plant for Monarch butterflies. I had several questions this past week about other host plants so thought I’d repost this blog from a couple of years ago. I get so many questions about what flowers to plant for a “butterfly” garden. Well, if we don’t start planting … Read more
NOW IS THE TIME TO GET READY FOR THE FALL PLANTING SEASON It is mid-August and now is a great time to be doing some preparatory work with improving our clay heavy soil in the lawn or gardens. Everyone who lives in Central Virginia knows all about our red soil. You can have all the … Read more
Did you know the Monarch butterfly population has declined 90% in the last 20 years? The destruction of native prairies and grasslands, as well as the widespread use of commercial weed killers, has decimated the population of native milkweed—the only plant Monarch butterflies will lay eggs on. You can help. By incorporating milkweed into your … Read more
