FLOWERS ALL YEAR ROUND There are many joys with gardening. For many of us, the number one joy is being able to enjoy having color in our gardens or containers year-round. We are fortunate to live in a state (Zones 6 – 8) that is temperate enough to allow flowers to be planted and enjoyed … Read more
This is the time of year to get my all-time favorite flowers–Amaryllis. Well, actually, what we call ‘amaryllis’ are really ‘hippeastrum’–members of the amaryllis family. The plants that are technically ‘amaryllis’ are the Amaryllis Belladonna and relatives, however, hippeastrum has been called ‘amaryllis’ for so long, that we’ll never be able to get people to … Read more
HERE IS SOME HELPFUL INFORMATION AND CARE TIPS FOR SCHEFFLERA PLANTS BUSHES IN THE HOUSE: SCHEFFLERA AND DWARF SCHEFFLERA Sometimes called Umbrella Tree, the Brassaia actinophylla is a large tropical shrub with rosettes of 5 long glossy green leaves forming umbrella-like symmetrical heads. Native to Queensland, Java, and New Guinea, the Schefflera is an easy … Read more
Despite the fact that the Netherland is the world’s leading grower of tulips, did you know that tulips are NOT native there? Tulips are native to the mountains of Turkey and Russia! So how did tulips get from there to the Netherlands? In the late 1500s, the ambassador to the courts of Suleiman the Magnificent … Read more
FALL IS FOR PLANTING – OCTOBER IS A BEAUTIFUL MONTH TO BE LIVING IN VIRGINIA!! I love the fall season. It is my favorite season of all. The days have become cooler and leaves are beginning to change color. What would make this time of year even more perfect is if we would have had … Read more
In the spring, I sit on my deck and admire the peonies in the back of my yard. I watch the occasional deer walk by—and keep on walking. They don’t eat them! I cut a few buds to bring inside because the fragrance is wonderful. I appreciate the beauty that they have brought to my … Read more
OCTOBER IS A BUSY GARDENING MONTH WHEN IT COMES TO PLANTING Usually, my first blog of the month is about important gardening chores that need to be done in the month. However, I feel the need to address the seriousness of our drought conditions and the importance of watering. The blog on ‘Gardening Chores for … Read more
Daffodils are one of the first flowers we learn to recognize as children. Maybe we called them “Daffy-down-dillies” or “Jonquils.” Their correct botanical name is Narcissus; the correct common name is ‘daffodil’. Jonquil refers to a specific kind of Narcissus/Daffodil. Daffodils are divided into thirteen different groups, depending on flower shape. They come in large … Read more
A TERRARIUM IS A FUN WAY TO ENJOY INDOOR PLANTS WITH LITTLE MAINTENANCE Terrariums are miniature plant habitats, especially useful for growing plants with high humidity requirements. Our present-day terrariums, from the utilitarian fish tank to more decorative glass containers, are direct descendants of the Victorian Era “Wardian Cases,” large containers used to grow or … Read more
September 23 is the Autumnal Equinox. The Autumnal Equinox occurs when the sun is directly in line with the equator. On this day, the day and the night are of equal length. From now until the Winter Solstice on December 21, the hours of dark will be longer than the hours of daylight every day. … Read more
